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FORMER South Africa captain Peter Kirsten is to coach Jersey’s cricketers next year.

The 52-year-old Test and one-day international batsman has been appointed on a two-month contract by the Jersey Cricket Board ahead of their World Cricket League Division V debut in May.
It’s certainly a fantastic and unprecedented appointment for the Island’s cricketing body and the ex-Derbyshire and Sussex all-rounder will not only work with the Island’s senior players but also with the younger age groups ahead of their ICC European competition at various levels next summer.
Kirsten, whose younger brother Gary has signed a two-year contract to coach India, will arrive in Jersey at the end of March and work with and prepare the squad ahead of their World Cricket League campaign which Jersey host between 23 and 31 May.
‘I’m highly delighted by the appointment,’ said Kirsten, ‘I’m really looking forward to returning to your beautiful Island which I visited many years ago.
‘Jersey cricket is part of the global structure and I’ve been impressed with what the Jersey Cricket Board and Chris Minty have been doing for your cricketers in such a short space of time.
‘You have a good structure. You’ve been awarded this tournament and I’m happy and hopeful I can help you move forward and possibly get to the next tier.
‘I love coaching, I have been coaching in South Africa for ten years and I’m sure I can help your players. I’m highly excited by the move, your set up looks excellent and I’m looking forward to helping your younger players in the under-15, U17 and U19 groups, too.
‘I’ve had a lot of contact with your officials over the past few months and I’m confident we can work well together for the benefit of all.
‘Chris has forwarded a lot of information to me and it is all very interesting. Cricket is highly competitive at all levels and I’m sure the forthcoming tournament will be, too.
‘I’m coming to help you improve your skills all round and if that is achieved it will be brilliant as you look to move up the tiers.’
JCB cricket director Chris Minty said: ‘Peter is a high level coach and the Jersey Cricket Board is delighted to appoint him.
‘He is a level four coach in South Africa and he is currently doing very well developing cricket and rugby at the South African College High School in Cape Town.
‘Peter is a high level professional and he will prepare us and take us through the World Cricket League tournament.
‘We are delighted he has accepted the position and are thoroughly confident he will make a big impact on cricket in Jersey.
‘Not only will he work with the Island squad, he will coach the under-15s and under-17s as well as those age groups look ahead to their competitions for the first time at Division I level next year.
‘Jersey coaches are set to benefit as well because Peter will be working with them, too. Yes, it’s a fantastic appointment and I’m sure it will help raise the profile of cricket again.
‘If the players don’t see this move as a positive step by way of an opportunity to improve their games then something must be wrong somewhere.
‘All the feed back we have had on Peter’s references have been outstanding and we look forward to working with him.’
Jersey Cricket Board vice-chairman Ward Jenner said: The Board have secured a top quality coach and we are absolutely delighted. To have a coach of Peter’s expertise and experience is really a feather in our cap – and to think he approached us!
‘We conducted interviews over the telephone and they have been first class. This appointment will now allow our players who have been doing the coaching with the team time to be coached themselves and concentrate on their own games.
‘It really is an exciting time for Jersey cricket and we are all looking forward to an exciting year ahead starting with the World Cricket League Division V programme in May.
‘I’m sure Peter’s coaching skills will be a real asset and help our players perform to the best of their abilities. Peter was an excellent player and he was top run scorer in the 1992 World Cup in Australia.
‘I’m also sure that if it would not have been for apartheid Peter could well have been the best Test batsman of all time.’
Island captain Matt Hague said: ‘It’s a great appointment; Peter is a cricket legend with 57 first-class tons and I’m sure he will be able to pass on some of his experience to our players.
‘He was a class player who went on to work with South African’s first team. He has enormous coaching experience and I’m sure he will be passing on the many good points he has to our players.’
Kirsten played 12 Tests and 40 one-day internationals from 1991 to 1994. Due to South African’s ban on international cricket during the 1970s and 1980s he did not make his Test debut until the late age of 36.
Right-arm bat and right arm off break bowler Kirsten, the older half-brother of former South Africa opener Gary Kirsten, scored his only Test century against England, in his penultimate Test, at Headingley in 1994.