SA name McKenzie as batting consultant for WI Tests; van Wyk appointed fielding coach

Neil McKenzie will serve as South Africa's batting consultant for the team's upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies starting February 28. A permanent batting coach will be named at a later stage, Cricket South Africa said via a release.

The former South Africa batter will work under new head coach Shukri Conrad, for whom the Test series will be his first assignment since taking up the role last month. The series will also serve as Charl Langeveldt's last as bowling coach before the newly-appointed Piet Botha takes up the position. Langeveldt is likely to take up a position in the IPL.

Botha made 118 first-class appearances in a career that spanned more than a decade. He was most recently the head coach of South Western Districts, having served as the bowling coach of the Johannesburg-based Lions team and head coach of Warriors in the domestic circuit earlier. He has also been a bowling consultant in the National Academy and the South Africa A side.

CSA has also roped in former New Zealand wicketkeeper-batter Kruger van Wyk the full-time Test fielding coach. Van Wyk, originally from South Africa, played nine Tests for New Zealand before calling it quits in 2015. Justin Ontong has not been retained as the fielding coach.

Matthew Reuben and Sizwe Hadebe will join the technical staff taking up the role of a performance analyst and physiotherapist, respectively, while Runeshan Moodley has been named the strength and conditioning coach. Former physiotherapist Craig Govender will take up a role at Mumbai Indians in the IPL.

"We would like to thank Neil for committing himself to the series while the permanent appointment is being finalised. He and Shukri have a good working relationship, having previously coached together at SA Under-19 level, and we look forward to them combining for the first series in what is a new era for the Test side," Director of Cricket Enoch Nkwe said.

"I am pleased to have Piet join the support staff. He has extensive coaching experience and has guided several promising players through the domestic pathway to higher honours," Conrad said. "Having personally experienced what he has to offer as a coach during his time at the National Academy, I am looking forward to the opportunity of working closely with him at this level."

There has been a change of leadership in South Africa's Test set-up, with Temba Bavuma replacing Dean Elgar as the captain. The first game against West Indies will be played in Centurion before the teams travel to Johannesburg for the second Test.

Shukri Conrad (Head Coach), Khomotso Volvo Masubelele (Team Manager), Neil McKenzie (Batting Consultant), Charl Langeveldt (Bowling Coach), Kruger van Wyk (Fielding Coach), Matthew Reuben (Performance Analyst), Sizwe Hadebe (Physiotherapist), Runeshan Moodley (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Dr Hashendra Ramjee (Team Doctor), Kyle Botha (Logistics and Masseur), Zunaid Wadee (Security), Lucy Davey (Media Manager)