With reports emerging that Cricket South Africa (CSA) are looking to replace current Proteas coach Russell Domingo with England bowling coach Ottis Gibson, Test skipper Faf du Plessis has asked his next coach not to make wholesale changes to the backroom staff.
"As far as we know, it's been told to us that the decision has been made by the coaching panel," ESPNcricinfo quoted du Plessis as saying.
"They've chosen Ottis Gibson as their recommendation and now that goes to the board and the board decides whether they want to use that recommendation or not," he added.
Domingo has been in the role since May 2013 and his contract expired with the recently concluded Test tour of England which the Proteas lost 1-3.
It is reported that there have been suggestions of changes to the support staff as well.
However, du Plessis has thrown his weight behind the incumbents Neil McKenzie, Charl Langeveldt and Claude Henderson, who are serving as batting coach, bowling coach and spin coach respectively.
More From This Section
"In an ideal situation, you'd like to make as little change as possible so it's not wholesale changes. A whole new coaching staff would come in and it would take a while to get to know everyone," he said.
"If there was a suggestion I could make is for whoever, if it was Ottis, to come in and see for himself what the team requires. If he decides that there needs to be changes, then he decides that over a period of time. Our technical coaches, I think, have been doing a very good job," the 32-year added.
South Africa went on beat Australia, South Africa and New Zealand at the start of their 2016-17 season. However, they suffered a humiliating 1-3 defeat in the four-match Test series against England, putting an end to a dismal time in the UK, where they lost ODI and T20I series' to the hosts, and suffered a group stage exit in the Champions Trophy.
Although, Domingo reapplied for the post in July, he now seems to have resigned to the idea that his tenure was done by the time Proteas were defeated by the Joe Root-led side inside four days at Old Trafford.
Domingo's job had come under fire towards the start of 2016 when South Africa slumped to Test series defeats against India and England and also had a disappointing World T20 campaign.