South Africa's cricket coach Mickey Arthur has resigned following the team's failure to beat England in the recent home Test series.
England won a rain-affected one-day series in South Africa and drew the four-match Test series.
Arthur was appointed in 2005 and his most recent contract extension was to take him up until 2012.
His dumping comes just days before the South African team's departure for India for a two-match Test series between the two top-ranked Test teams. India recently took over the top spot from South Africa.
High performance coach Corrie van Zyl is expected to take the side to India while Cricket SA starts the process to find a long-term successor.