Kirsten Lands Plum Cardiff Job

Ex-South Africa and India coach Gary Kirsten will take charge of the Cardiff-based franchise in the new Hundred competition in 2020. The former Test batsman will combine the Hundred job with coaching the Durban Heat T20 side.

He already boasts plenty of franchise experience, having coached the Hobart Hurricanes in Australia’s Big Bash and Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League. Kirsten is the fourth coaching appointment for the inaugural year of the eight-team competition, which will get underway next summer.

Shane Warne was named coach of the Lord’s-based London franchise last week, joining fellow Australians Andrew McDonald (Birmingham) and Simon Katich (Manchester), while ex-Australia coach Darren Lehmann is set to be appointed to run the Leeds-based team.

“I got a call from (Glamorgan chief executive) Hugh Morris to see if I was interested,” said Kirsten, who steered India to the 2011 World Cup and South Africa to the top of the International Cricket Council Test rankings.

“It’s a new format and the euphoria in the game is at fever pitch, so I’m really excited to be in the mix and to work with a new team. “I’ve got a feeling it will grow organically, there’s a great curiosity around the new format.”