Domingo wants bowlers to start well
Proteas coach Russell Domingo has urged his bowlers to get off to a quick start as they prepare to kick off the long tour of India.
|||Johannesburg - Though the focus will be on the spinners in the upcoming series against India in home conditions, South African coach Russell Domingo said it was vital the entire bowling attack contribute.
“Indian players are very good players of spin, but our fast bowlers have been successful in these conditions,” said Domingo after South Africa's first practice session on Monday.
“Although spin is going to be a big factor during the series it is important our seamers start off well. We have got good spinners in our squad. We have the experience of Imran Tahir, we have got two promising spinners in Dane Piedt and Simon Harmer and it will be great experience for them to play against India in these conditions and in high-pressure environments.”
The Proteas play their a warmup T20 against an Indian Board president's XI on Tuesday, before starting the tour in earnest with the first T20 International against the hosts on Friday.
Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held next year in India, speedsters Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have not been made a part of the T20 squad.
“Dale and Morne are in the plans for World T20. It will be a very long tour so we had to decide how best to manage our bowlers and we felt for Dale and Morne to be here for 75 days will be a tough ask; practising and playing day in day out,” Domingo clarified.
This will give an opportunity for the young crop of fast bowlers coming through the ranks to show their worth and impress the selectors.
“ It does allow us to keep those other options and keep those guys fresh as possible for the Test and the one-dayers,” Domingo added. Domingo felt that the presence of fiery characters in both the squads will bring in aggression to the contest.
“I think both sides play pretty aggressively. It is in the captaincy and leadership of Virat Kohli to play this brand of cricket,” he said.
“We saw a lot that during the World Cup. Their body language, bowlers had an aggressive nature and full credit to them that they have taken that part of the game forward.”- ANA