Johannesburg – With barely a moment to draw breath following another disappointing failure at an ICC one-day event, Russell Domingo has begun forging the plans for his stint as the national side’s coach appointing an assistant, a consultant and putting an emphasis on consistency in the shorter formats.
The latter assertion holds true not just for results but also for selection, which under Gary Kirsten’s stewardship saw a variety of playing personnel and strategies utilised.
“There’s been a lot of chopping and changing which could be perceived as being inconsistent, but it has allowed us to look at certain players,” Domingo explained on Thursday.
“I want to get consistency in our one-day cricket and stick to selecting a group of maybe 18 players in the next two years, so that those 18 players can get 25 games in a particular role; bat in a particular position, bowl in certain situations, so that when we do get to those big encounters and someone does get injured or is not available, we don’t give a debut cap to someone who hasn’t done it for us.”
That’s the major reason there hasn’t been crazy changes to the playing staff for Domingo’s first assignment as head coach – a three-week trip to Sri Lanka where South Africa will play five One-Day Internationals and three T20 internationals. “If I honestly think there are better players to select, they then are going to get selected. I think the guys who were selected for the Champions Trophy and this group are the best players we have currently in South Africa.”
Dale Steyn is absent having been given the month off to overcome what was described as a “few niggles”. Morné Morkel returns, while Chris Morris and Quinton de Kock, who were not originally part of the Champions Trophy squad, have been retained along with Alviro Petersen.
David Wiese is the only new cap in both squads, his selection reward for some explosive performances for the Titans at domestic level. “T20 is all about guys who can hit boundaries at the back end. Albie (Morkel) was the guy earmarked to do that in the past,” Domingo explained. “That No7 spot is such an important one and David Wiese fulfils that one better than any other player at the moment in that he can bat and give us a few overs.”
Imran Tahir also makes a return to the international scene, with his wicket-taking ability in the middle overs of one-day matches having gained the selectors’ approval once more.
Adrian Birrell will be Domingo’s assistant, re-establishing a relationship forged when Birrell coached Domingo at Under-14 level. “It’s ultimately someone who I feel comfortable with,” said Domingo. “He is someone who’s work ethic and opinion I value and someone who I can bounce ideas off, and who is going to challenge me.
“As assistant coach, I thought it’s not such an important position, but as a head coach it’s a massively important position.”
Birrell also worked with Domingo at the Warriors, while his coaching CV includes stints as head coach of Ireland – which he helped guide to the Super Eights phase of the 2007 World Cup and the England Under-19 side where Joe Root was one of his players.
“In leading Ireland I needed to recreate history in that they didn’t have a history of getting into a World Cup. The challenge for us here is to recreate history again because South Africa have never won a World Cup,” the 52 year old said.
Claude Henderson has been seconded into a consultancy role to assist the spinners. Henderson, who played seven Tests, will be available to the national side for 100 days of the year and will tour with them to the subcontinent. The South African squad leave for Sri Lanka on July 14. The first ODI will be played in Colombo on July 20.
Proteas Castle Lager ODI squad
AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, Colin Ingram, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morné Morkel, Chris Morris, Alviro Petersen, Robin Peterson, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Proteas Blue Label T20 squad
Faf du Plessis (capt), Farhaan Behardien, Henry Davids, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Rory Kleinveldt, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morné Morkel, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, David Wiese.
South Africa A squads to play India A and Australia A
SA A four-day squad
Justin Ontong (capt), Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, Marchant de Lange, Dean Elgar, Ayabulela Gqamane, Simon Harmer, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Rilee Rossouw, Thami Tsolekile, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Stiaan van Zyl, Hardus Viljoen.
SA A one-day squad
Justin Ontong (capt), Kyle Abbott, Temba Bavuma, Dean Elgar, Ayabulela Gqamane, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Richard Levi, Rilee Rossouw, Yaseen Vallie, Roelof van der Merwe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Dane Vilas, Hardus Viljoen. – The Star