South Africa named Malibongwe Maketa as interim head coach for Australia Test Tour

South Africa men's cricket team named Malibongwe Maketa as their interim head coach on Wednesday and he will take charge of the Proteas for a three-Test tour of Australia starting next month.

Maketa will replace Mark Boucher, who will step down as head coach after the ongoing T20 World Cup in Australia.

"He is a familiar face to the environment,” South Africa’s director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said in a media release on Wednesday.

“Mali knows most of the players well. They know him too and with such a short time between now and the tour, we as Cricket South Africa felt we needed someone who could step in immediately and lead us through what is an important



series.”

Boucher confirmed in September that he would step down after the T20 World Cup and is taking charge of the Mumbai Indians in the 2023 Indian Premier League.

South Africa will play three Tests in Australia, starting in Perth on December 17.

The 42-year-old Maketa is currently the South Africa “A” team coach and head of the national academy and has been part of the senior team's coaching group before. He was an assistant coach with the Proteas from 2017-19.

His appointment is only for the tests in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney in December and January, with Cricket South Africa expected to make a permanent appointment early next year.