“There’s nothing been finalised yet”

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

England bowling coach Ottis Gibson is the frontrunner to take over the South Africa head coach job, but the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will reportedly ask Cricket South Africa (CSA) for compensation before they consider allowing him to leave.

Gibson’s contract with England expires after the 2018 season, but if CSA are interested in appointing him as head coach, then they will have to reach an agreement with the ECB.

It is also understood that the ECB have yet to receive a formal approach from CSA, but now that the four-Test series is over, it is likely both boards will engage in negotiations.

When asked about Gibson, England head coach Trevor Bayliss said: “To be honest I only found out from the media. That was the first we heard of it. There’s nothing been finalised yet. I’m at a loss at the moment whether it’s a go ahead. We haven’t heard for sure. By all accounts it sounds like it.

“I think with all these things you look at the positives: someone from the England set-up is being looked at for a higher job somewhere. All these things you’ve got to look at as positives not negatives.”