JOHANNESBURG (Reuters)
Coach Graham Ford could face the chop over South Africa's disastrous Test series in Australia, a Johannesburg newspaper reported.

World champions Australia surged to emphatic victories in all three Tests, triumphing by 246 runs in Adelaide, nine wickets in Melbourne, and 10 wickets in Sydney.

"If a coach doesn't see to it that his people perform up to standard there should be an inquiry about that," the Sunday Times quoted United Cricket Board (UCB) president Percy Sonn as saying.

"If that coach is no longer good for the team then obviously he has breached his contract - our contracts are performance contracts."

The Test series loss to Australia was Ford's first as coach. He has guided South Africa to seven series wins with another drawn and is contracted until after the 2003 World Cup.

Sonn also hinted that selector Graeme Pollock could be punished for revealing on Australian radio that Sonn had vetoed the selection of Jacques Rudolph to play in the third Test and insisted that black all-rounder Justin Ontong be picked instead, prompting a race debate in South African cricket.

"The people who have breached confidence shall be dealt with," Sonn, who did not name Pollock, was quoted as saying. "All our officials, on their election, sign confidentiality contracts. Those who breach them shall be dealt with by the (UCB) council."

Sonn was clearly unhappy with Pollock's actions.

"It (the circumstances around Ontong's selection) is not something that was supposed to get out to the media ... We're a family and supposed to look after one another," the paper quoted Sonn as saying.

"There's nothing wrong with having a disagreement in a family - but you don't harm yourself by telling the opposition you are having spats."

Meanwhile, Sonn is due back in South Africa on Monday amid a row over his comments on a possible eventual role in cricket for banned ex-captain Hansie Cronje.

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