CSA ditches Mpitsang and old-school selection panel, but coach-only selectors is, wisely, on trial

Cricket South Africa's (CSA) decision to overhaul and simplify the Proteas' selection process is, for now, a trial.

Enoch Nkwe, the national director of cricket, confirmed after the announcement of the Test squad for the two-match series against the West Indies that it was doing away with the traditional model of a panel headed by a convener, most recently former Free State and Proteas seamer Victor Mpitsang.

Patrick Moroney, the only other member of committee, has also left his post at both senior and Under-19 level.

Instead, the enlistment of all national players will lie with South Africa's two coaches, Shukri Conrad and Rob Walter.

While undeniably assisting in saving some costs, Nkwe believes it's an opportune time to break away from a past where head coaches didn't have a full say in the squads they'd like to pick.

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"I've always believed the coach should have more of a say in selection," Nkwe said.

"[They have a] better understanding of what is required, as long as it's in line with CSA's bigger strategy. It is going to be an interim phase, something we want to trial.

"But I believe the two coaches are the best-positioned people to talk about selection. I have a lot of trust in our two coaches that we are going in the right direction. Shukri and Rob are going to be leading the selection structure with the respective captains."

It's an arrangement rendered easier to implement by the fact that in Conrad, CSA has an existing employee with a deeply intimate knowledge of the local cricketing landscape.

As a result, it would've been debatable whether another candidate - an overseas based coach, for example - would've possessed the nous to take full