Gary Kirsten, who coached the Indian cricket team to their World Cup triumph this year, has been appointed coach of his native South Africa.
Kirsten turned down a lucrative offer to extend his contract in India after three successful years there, and he takes over at home from Corrie van Zyl, who stood down after South Africa's disappointing quarter-final exit at the World Cup.
43 year old Kirsten has named as one of his assistants the fast bowling great Allan Donald who resigned as New Zealand's full-time bowling coach to join Kirsten, whose call came from out of the blue.
