Gary Kirsten

Calcutta: Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the national selectors (Krishnamachari Srikkanth, Yashpal Sharma, Narendra Hirwani, Surendra Bhave, Raja Venkat) aren’t sworn enemies, but they aren’t exactly best buddies, either.

Yet, if things haven’t reached a stage of confrontation, except once, to an extent only (in late 2008), then it’s thanks largely to coach Gary Kirsten.

The captain and coach are co-opted members of the selection committee.

“Very often, the captain and coach can’t be present during the meetings... When that happens, almost invariably, it’s Kirsten who conveys the captain’s views to Srikkanth (the chief selector)... He’s the via medium of communication,” a well-placed source told The Telegraph.

The source added: “Dhoni finds Kirsten completely trustworthy... The coach has helped maintain civility, even though there have been instances when Dhoni has actually felt very frustrated at selection committee meetings...”

According to the source, there was a time when Dhoni was even contemplating requesting the Board president, Shashank Manohar, to “permanently excuse” him from attending the meetings.

That bit, however, couldn’t be confirmed from the Board.

Getting back to Kirsten, obviously, he’s been performing a rather sensitive role to perfection. Typically, in his quiet not-for-the-cameras manner.

Kirsten, who has helped take India to No.1 in Test cricket and No.2 in ODIs (we were, briefly, at the top in the 50-over game, too), is on contract till the 2011 World Cup.

As already reported, Cricket South Africa, which has hired and fired coaches in plenty after the Bob Woolmer era ended in mid-1999, intends to grab Kirsten.

Kirsten, 42, served South Africa with distinction during his playing days — 1993-2004, making 101 appearances in Tests (7,289 runs) and 185 in ODIs (6,798 runs).

Many in Kirsten’s homeland are convinced he can make a difference in a different role as well.