South African Dale Benkenstein would complete his circle of life as he joins the Bangladesh cricket team as the batting consultant for the much-anticipated South Africa Test series. The importance of selection of South African Dale Benkenstein as a batting coach would be an added advantage to the Bangladesh batting lineup, which wants to perform well in South African conditions .
Apart from Dale Benkenstein, assistant coach Malibongwe Maketa is given the responsibility of fielding coach for the entire South Africa series, taking over the job from interim fielding coach Ashiqur Rahman and will look to improve the fielding standards for the tour of South Africa, where sharp fielding would be crucial in deciding the series.
Bangladesh have made a few important changes for their upcoming tour of South Africa. The developments came after the Tigers lost to the West Indies in a two-match Test series, that too at home. Given that Bangladesh produced a scintillating red-ball show in Australia not long ago, it was an unfortunate result for Najmul Hossain Shanto and his boys. And for that, they decided to rectify the situation as quickly as possible before heading to South Africa.
Bangladesh hits a jackpot selecting Dale Benkenstein and Maketa as coaches for South Africa
Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) on Monday announced that former South African all-rounder Dale Benkenstein would be their batting specialist for the South Africa tour, where Tests, ODIs and T20Is will all be played. For Dale Benkenstein it is the life of circle complete as he played 23 ODIs for South Africa, with his final appearance coming against Bangladesh.
Dale Benkenstein’s appointment comes after the BCB removed Mohammad Ashraful as batting coach ahead of the two-Test home series against the West Indies, with Mohammad Salahuddin subsequently taking over the role on an interim basis. Dale Benkenstein had the most prolific first class career for South Africa having scored  15,962 runs at an average of 44.21. Apart from his South African connection, Dale Benkenstein also has the experience in the county circuit in England having a nine year association with Durham county.
Going by the numbers, he captained the county to their maiden County Championship title in 2008, having previously led them to the Friends Provident Trophy in 2007. He was also part of the Durham side that successfully defended their County Championship crown in 2009. After moving into coaching, Dale Benkenstein guided Hampshire to the Division Two County Championship title in 2014. He also served as batting coach of the South African national team from 2017 to 2019 and has coached several English county sides, including Lancashire and Gloucestershire.
In other news, BCB confirmed that Malibongwe Maketa, who recently joined as Bangladesh’s assistant coach, will serve as their fielding coach during the South Africa tour. He will replace Ashiqur Rahman, who was there with Bangladesh’s squad for fielding department on an interim basis.
Bangladesh will begin their South African tour with the first Test in Johannesburg on November 15, followed by the second at Centurion on November 23. The three-match ODI series will be played on December 1, 4 and 7, before the teams switch to T20Is on December 10, 12 and 13.
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