South African offspinner Johan Botha says he hasn’t been hired as Redbacks captain to “shake up” South Australian cricket.
Botha, after a stint with the Adelaide Strikers last summer, realised his South African days were limited to Twenty20.
Redbacks coach Darren Berry sensed opportunity and prompted Michael Klinger to step down as captain for the South African.
“A couple of people around Australia may not be happy with it,” Botha told reporters in Adelaide on Monday.
“But there is nothing I can do about it, we have all made the decision and we’re going to go with it.”
Botha will spend the next three weeks in Adelaide meeting and training with his Redbacks players.
Chances are he won’t see them again until the Sheffield Shield season has started due to South Africa’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign.
Botha will captain the Redbacks for the next two seasons but won’t completely overhaul a side without a Sheffield Shield win since November 2010.
“Obviously there is a lot of expectation from the locals, and probably even some of the guys in the team, to come in and all of sudden shake everything up,” the veteran of 78 one-day internationals said.
“But no, I don’t have any magic potion. We will have to take it step by step.
“A lot of captains try to take over and dominate a bit.
“I just want them to go out there and play.”
The 30-year-old, who played five Tests, joins ex-NSW opening bat Phil Hughes at the Redbacks.
Coach Berry also rejected speculation batsman Callum Ferguson and allrounder Dan Christian were weighing offers from rival states, saying both would soon re-sign with SA.