Boucher faces axe in major Safs reshuffle

It is believed that the UCB were hoping to sign Rod Marsh, now in charge of England’s academy squad, but the money was not good enough.

The axing of Boucher, a veteran of 76 Tests, and the appointment of a new coach without subcontinent experience is only part of what insiders suggest is a purge of the Cape Town faction, and may further divide a team fragile in confidence and ability.

Without a coaching job since March, Jennings was surprisingly given a temporary contract by the UCB to coach what is a strongly competitive A side against such ‘‘heavyweights’’ as Zimbabwe A and New Zealand A. The Safs A team easily won both series.

Since these twin successes Jennings, a former wicketkeeper, has been stirring up the Afrikaans media and a local 24-hour website, saying he is the right man to replace the easy-going Simons whose coaching methods have been criticised.

Playing the blame game, Jennings has made his acceptance of the coach offer conditional to Boucher’s sacking. He has his own candidates for the job and, as the coach is now one of the four selectors, Jennings is likely to thump the table for who he wants.

How many other players will feel the selectors axe will be interesting as the Safs bowling was exposed in Sri Lanka as not being up to international standard.

Jennings was fired by the politically-motivated Gauteng Cricket Board several seasons ago when he had problems accepting the transformation policy. While openly critical of the UCB’s affirmative action policy, he is known to have his own transformation (players of colour) cronies.

This comes against an interesting background of Jennings playing a leading role in the Safs rebel sides during the controversial Ali Bacher-organised pirate tours of the 1980s.

Should he get the post, it will be interesting how Jennings will see eye-to-eye with Henry and former Safs Test cap Gary Kirsten with his impressive record. As it was his credentials were rejected by New South Wales when he applied for the position.