Proteas are in good hands with Domingo
ILLOVO - Many cricket enthusiasts and members of the public were scratching their heads after the appointment of Russell Domingo as the new head coach of the South African national cricket team.
“Russell who?” many of them asked after the announcement following the resignation of Gary Kirsten, who will hand over the reins to the 38-year-old Domingo after the ICC Champions Trophy in England next month.
Domingo has been Kirsten’s second-in-command since the former international was appointed coach in June 2011. Domingo was also appointed coach of the Twenty20 side in December last year.
Kirsten and Domingo took the Proteas to the top of the ICC’s Test rankings, though their performances in limited overs cricket were very inconsistent.
Naturally, sceptics were quick to question Domingo’s credentials upon his appointment, but he has an impressive CV. He started coaching at the relatively young age of 22 when he received his qualifications after realising that he was not quite up to scratch as a player.
After years spent climbing the rungs of age-group cricket, he received a significant boost in 2005 when he was appointed coach of the Eastern Cape’s Chevrolet Warriors, after current Australian coach Mickey Arthur was named the Proteas’ chief. Domingo transformed the Warriors from also-rans into cup contenders.
This culminated in the franchise winning the domestic 20-over and 40-over competitions during the 2009-10 season. The Warriors were also runners-up in the 2010 Champions League T20 final against the Chennai Super Kings at the Wanderers Stadium.
This success saw Cricket South Africa come calling the following year for him to assist Kirsten in taking the Proteas to new heights.
“It has to be the highlight in anybody’s coaching career to be given the honour and responsibility of being put in charge of your national side,” said Domingo.
“I would like to thank the Board of Cricket South Africa for the faith they have shown in me and also the many people who have helped me to live my coaching dream.”
His first assignment will be when the Proteas travel to Sri Lanka later this month for five ODIs and three T20 International matches.
