South Africa boast a support staff to die for

When South Africa take on India in Melbourne in their group game on Sunday, a lot of eyeballs will be focused on one Gary Kirsten. In a move that could be a masterstroke in the long run, the Proteas have roped in the man behind India’s 2011 World Cup success as their consultant for the tournament.

The news of Kirsten’s appointment — coming after their opening game in the tournament — is of significance. The former South African opening batsman, who headed straight from the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction (he is the coach of Delhi Daredevils) to Melbourne to help AB de Villiers & Co prepare for the India clash, knows a thing or two about the Men in Blue.

It’s a much different Indian team from the one Kirsten coached in 2011, but his insider’s wisdom on Indian cricket will surely come in handy as South Africa will look to keep their all-win record versus India in World Cup intact. The soft-spoken Kirsten, who gelled extremely well with the senior Indian players during his four-year stint, is an acknowledged master in man-management skills with a backroom boy approach.

While he got along famously with the legendary Sachin Tendulkar (stories of Kirsten’s countless throwdowns to the master batsman at the nets are well-known), most members of that Indian team have gone on record in expressing their admiration for his style of functioning.

Having achieved the pinnacle of glory in easily the most demanding job in cricket coaching, the South African chose not to extend his contract — something that has only endured his brand value.

It’s not that he has any magic recipe to help the South Africans get rid of their chokers tag, but the decision to have him in the ranks shows the seriousness of their cricket establishment’s intent. While De Villiers’ team picks itself as one of the hot favourites on form, the concerted effort to focus on the psychological aspect of the bunch is praiseworthy.

Kirsten is among a number of leading lights in the support staff that Cricket South Africa has gone for — the other ones being former Australian great Mike Hussey and explorer-and-motivator Mike Horn. A World Cup winner, ‘Mr Cricket’ Hussey can certainly help them with inputs on coping with the batting conditions Down Under, while Horn’s job is building the mental strength.

A friend of Kirsten, the South Africa-born Swiss explorer Horn worked with the Indian team in 2011 as well as the Proteas, while IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders also flew him in during their preparations last year. Horn’s finest hour was, however, when he worked with the German football team on the eve of the Fifa World Cup last year.

It’s a support system that any cricket team would be ready to die for — and I still haven’t mentioned a certain Allan Donald as the bowling coach. Let’s hope the South Africans can really bury their demons and go all the way this time.