Graham Ford appointed South African Assistant Coach

This is the consensus opinion in cricket circles following Ford's appointment on Tuesday as assistant coach for the tour to New Zealand in February and March. With Bob Woolmer standing down as national coach after the World Cup in May and June, the United Cricket Board (UCB) have been considering replacements and Ford's appointment is a clear sign he is the front-runner for the position.

The current assistant coach, former South African fast bowler Corrie van Zyl, asked to stand down from the New Zealand tour to spend more time with his wife and two sons.

After schooling at Maritzburg College, a top-class tennis career and a spell as captain of the Natal B cricket team, Ford began coaching at Maritzburg Varsity while employed as a sports officer.

He then moved to Durban to become coach of the Natal team for the 1992/93 season and ushered in a period of glorious success for the young team, as well as having a pivotal role in the development of household names such as Shaun Pollock and Lance Klusener.

He has just resumed the coaching duties for Natal after the brief tenure of Frans Cronje, but said on Tuesday the opportunity to be involved at national level was one he could not pass up.

``It has come as a sudden surprise. I just love being involved in cricket, but to be involved at such a high level is something of a unique opportunity for me, having never gone too far as a player. It's great to get this opportunity and I'll be able to get a taste of international cricket,'' Ford said.

Ford has coached the SA A team in recent times - on a triumphant tour to Sri Lanka which overcame considerable obstacles and in last month's four-dayer against the West Indies in Pietermaritzburg - and UCB managing director Ali Bacher said the executive had been very impressed.

``Graham has done an excellent job as coach of the SA A team and he has the respect and support of the players from Hansie Cronje down. It was a unanimous decision of the executive to appoint him,'' Bacher said on Tuesday. The UCB will advertise the position of national coach in the next few weeks, with Woolmer's replacement being named in early April, but Ford would not confirm he would submit his name for consideration.

``The New Zealand tour gives me a great chance to have a closer look at the top job but I don't want to think too far into the future. I'll need to think it through fully. Coaching the South African team will be hard work, involving plenty of pressure and a lot of time away from home,'' was the typically modest response from the 38-year-old Natal coach.

Bacher was pleased to report, however, that he had been impressed by Ford's enthusiasm for the job.

``I have been impressed by Graham and his response when I phoned to let him know he had been appointed impressed me still further. He was so excited at the prospect. He is a quality person and a quality coach and we're waiting to see how he goes next month in New Zealand.''

Having already surprised everyone with his shrewd reading of the game and excellent people skills while taking Natal to three trophies in three seasons ('94/'95-'96/'97), Ford now has the chance to show his abilities internationally with a trip to the World Cup seemingly certain according to a source close to the UCB executive.

``He needs to go to New Zealand now and learn a bit more about the players. But even at this early stage there is a strong likelihood that he will go to the World Cup as Bob Woolmer's assistant before his appointment as national coach after that.''