Kirsten to take short break
South Africa coach Gary Kirsten will miss tomorrow’s final NatWest International T20 against England to spend time with his family.
The former Proteas opener has opted to take a break from the squad as they conclude their World Twenty20 preparations at Edgbaston, before rejoining them in Colombo on September 16 ahead of the start of the tournament.
Kirsten said: “I have made a decision to go home and to see my family; that is something that has always been part of my thinking when I took up this job.
Gary Kirsten will miss tomorrow's final NatWest International T20. "I think it will be good for the team," explained South Africa's coach
“I think it will be good for the team, just to have me out of the space for a little bit and to see how the ship runs. I'm looking forward to seeing how that unfolds.”
Kirsten has taken intermittent breaks from the Proteas since succeeding long-term interim coach Corrie van Zyl at the helm 15 months ago.
His decision to return early from the tour mirrors England coach Andy Flower’s absence from the fifth NatWest Series one-day international at Trent Bridge, which the hosts lost by seven wickets.
The Proteas lead the Twenty20 series 1-0 after yesterday’s second match at Old Trafford was abandoned as a no result.
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