South Africa captain Faf du Plessis says drastic structural changes over the last month contributed significantly to the Test side turning around their fortunes and starting the four-match series against England with a win.
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The hosts ended a run of five straight Test defeats with a 107-run win over England at Centurion Park on Sunday and the skipper hailed the part played by new coaching structures and fresh personnel in Cricket South Africa's (CSA) administration.
"Now we can trust the system a little bit more and just focus on playing cricket," said Du Plessis. "There is a lot more confidence in the structures, going from the top down.
"Obviously there were plans in place before, but right now I feel there are better plans in place.
"We have got the right people in the right jobs, we've got the right people at the top of Cricket South Africa, which is really important."
CSA placed chief executive Thabang Moroe on "precautionary suspension" on December 6 following allegations of misconduct, and just hours later major sponsor Standard Bank said it would not renew its contract in protest at poor governance in the organisation.
Former captain Graeme Smith was appointed acting director of cricket five days later and he chose his former team-mates Mark Boucher and Jacques Kallis as head coach and batting consultant respectively.
Enoch Nkwe, who as acting coach took the team on a three-Test tour to India in November where they were soundly thrashed, stays on as assistant coach.
"Leadership always comes from the top and filters down and so I feel like, by starting that it sets the tone for the way that we are playing now," Du Plessis said.
Australian Associated Press
