Friday 4 August 2017 23:42, UK
The England and Wales Cricket Board says it has yet to receive an approach for bowling coach Ottis Gibson from Cricket South Africa.
Reports emerged on day one of the fourth Investec Test between the sides that Gibson was in line to take over as head coach of the Proteas, whose current incumbent Russell Domingo is out of contract at the end of the tour.
An ECB statement indicated no formal contact had been made about the 48-year-old Barbadian but did not appear to rule out the possibility as soon as the current match ends.
It said: "We have had no approach from Cricket South Africa. We will not listen to any approaches until after the current series has concluded."
Gibson is in his second stint working with England's seamers, having left for a four-year spell as head coach of his native West Indies between 2010 and 2014.
He returned to the ECB fold two years ago and is a popular and highly-rated figure in the national set-up.
England begin a new Test series against the Windies later this month and, with an Ashes trip coming up in the winter, would be eager to fill any gap in their backroom team swiftly.
Their assistant coach Paul Farbrace confirmed England do not anticipate an announcement on Gibson's future before the fourth Test finishes.
"We've obviously heard the news tonight, but I promise you we've had nothing official," said Farbrace.
"It's all being left now until the end of the series ... I hope."
Gibson helped to win the World Twenty20 with West Indies in 2012 and was also in charge for their semi-final defeat to Sri Lanka in defence of their title two years later.
"Ottis is someone who has obviously had a lot of international experience," added Farbrace.
"He did a great job for the West Indies, won the Twenty20 World Cup as a head coach, (then) lost out in a semi-final against Sri Lanka.
"He's done a great job with England on two occasions.
"But at the moment Russell Domingo is head coach of South Africa and doing a brilliant job - and it would be disrespectful of us to talk about his position all the time he's in it."
