Former South African first class player Ant Botha installed as Adelaide Cricket Club's coach

JACQUES Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Jonty Rhodes will play a part in Adelaide Cricket Club's bid for improvement this season.

JACQUES Kallis, Shaun Pollock and Jonty Rhodes will play a part in Adelaide Cricket Club's bid for improvement this season.

The Buffalos' newly installed coach Ant Botha played alongside the trio of greats in his youth in South Africa and says their influence has shaped him as a cricketer and a mentor.

"I was very fortunate especially in my early days to be surrounded by guys who ended up becoming some of the best players in the world," Botha, 36, said.

"These guys played a big part in moulding me.

"From everything I've experienced I feel that I have a real passion and ability to help others develop their game."

Botha made the South African under-19 team as an opening batsman in 1996 and toured India with the likes of Mark Boucher and Kallis.

Six months later he made his first-class debut for Natal as a spinning allrounder alongside Rhodes, Pollock and Lance Klusener

"These guys played a big part in my career because they were three or four years older than me and I was the youngster," said Botha, who is no relation to Redbacks captain Johan.

After five years at Natal, Botha accepted an offer to play County Cricket in England, first at Warwickshire and then at Derbyshire, where he was captained by former Australian Test batsman Simon Katich.

"During my best year in England I was fortunate enough to play under his (Katich's) captaincy and he really played a big part in my career.

"He understood my strengths and weaknesses, technically and mentally, and just helped me with everything I needed."

Botha retired from playing in 2011 and moved to Naracoorte with his Australian wife Katie and son Jesse, now four.

After accepting the Buffalos job, he relocated to Adelaide last month and set up a cricket coaching business.

Botha said his goal at the club was to improve individuals and a team which finished 10th last season.

"It's exciting, but I'm not even thinking about where we're going to finish," he said.

"I'm just focusing on improving the guys and instilling a hard work ethic where they enjoy their cricket and they are motivated."