JOHANNESBURG (Agencies)-Cricket South Africa (CSA) has begun its search for a new coach and will look "far and wide" for a candidate to replace Corrie van Zyl, it said. CSA will consider foreign coaches, with Van Zyl set to step down after the 2011 World Cup to return to his role at the federation's high performance academy "CSA is casting its net far and wide to find the right person to replace caretaker Proteas' coach Corrie van Zyl and take the team to even higher levels of performance," chief executive Gerald Majola said. "We thank and applaud Corrie for stepping into the breach at such short notice after the resignation by Mickey Arthur as national coach last season." Under Van Zyl, 49, the Proteas beat the West Indies and drew test series away against India and Pakistan in 2010, and took a 1-0 home series lead over top-ranked India this week in the three-match series between the top two test teams. South Africa has also won three of its last four ODI series. Van Zyl's final challenges will be the home test and five-match ODI series against India and then an attempt to win a first World Cup for South Africa early next year. The new coach will be appointed on a two-year contract, CSA said, which will cover the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka, the inaugural World Test Championship, home. and away series against Australia and a tour of England. Applications will close on Jan. 7. "The search for candidates for this vital job is worldwide and the criteria set for the successful applicant is of the highest world standards," Majola said. "CSA believes that the Proteas have the right balance and skills to be the best in the world and now we are looking for the right coach ... to take them to that level and keep them there." Van Zyl will be on the panel to select the new national coach, alongside Majola, selection convener Andrew Hudson, CSA's Cricket Committee chairman Andrew O'Connor and players' representative Boeta Dippenaar.