The country’s test and limited over teams will be coached by Shukri Conrad and Rob Walter, respectively, according to a statement issued by Cricket South Africa on Monday.
Since 2014, Conrad, 55, has worked with many of South Africa’s top players as head coach of the South African Academy. Additionally, he coached the South African Under-19 team.
A former head coach of Uganda’s national team, he has experience at senior domestic level with Cape Cobras and Lions.
Over the next four years, his side has been severely curtailed after suffering heavy defeats in recent away series against England and Australia.
The Proteas play a two-match series against the West Indies at the end of February and do not play another Test match until India hosts South Africa later this year.
But CSA chief executive Pholetsi Moseki said the appointment of a specialist Test coach was a sign of the importance of Test cricket, even though the CSA has reduced the number of matches to set up a new T20 league.
“We have not marginalised Test cricket,” Moseki said. “We want to invest to bring Test cricket back up to the standard we expect.”
CSA director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said a “big goal” for Walter is to work toward the 2027 Cricket World Cup, which South Africa will co-host with Zimbabwe and Namibia.
His first task, however, will be to make sure South Africa qualifies for this year’s World Cup and “give our best” at the tournament in India.
Walter was the strength and conditioning coach for the South African national team between 2009 and 2013 before becoming head coach of the Titans.
He led them to three titles in three seasons before moving to New Zealand in 2016, where he coached Otago and most recently Central Districts.
Both coaches will only start their jobs in February -– which means Walter will only take charge after South Africa play England in three one-day internationals later this month.
The two coaches replace former test wicketkeeper Mark Boucher, who was contracted until the end of the World Cup later this year but resigned to take a job with the Mumbai Indians franchise in the Indian Premier League.
Nkwe said he was embarked on a major “reset” of both red-ball and white-ball cricket which could involve flexibility in agreeing contracts with players leaving the national system in an era of lucrative T20 leagues.