Proteas opener Elgar backs Russell Domingo to continue as coach

Proteas Test opening batsman Dean Elgar has backed Russell Domingo to continue coaching the senior cricket national team.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) board in January announced that they have began a process of finding a new coach for the Proteas and Domingo‚ whose contract expires at the end of August after the tour to England‚ is welcomed to re-apply.

Speaking at OR Tambo Airport after the Proteas’s arrival from New Zealand on Thursday night‚ Elgar admitted he was a ‘big fan’ of Domingo who he believe still has a lot to offer the national team.

“Personally‚ I would like to see him stay on. I think he still has another two years of his cricket coaching and mentorship.

"I think he is getting better with age‚ he still has a hell lot to offer to the team‚ the players around also would like to see him stay. I am a big Russell Domingo fan and if he is going to continue being the coach I am more than happy‚” he said.

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Elgar also sympathised with his opening partner Stephen Cook who was dropped for the third and final Test in Hamilton after a poor run of form which has thrown his future in the team in doubt.

After four innings in Dunedin and Wellington‚ Cook scored only 17 runs at an average of 4.25 and he was replaced by Knights batsman Theunis de Bruyn whose two innings in Hamilton only yielded 12 runs.

“It’s not easy‚ I have been there before myself where you get dropped and you go into a dark place because things are not going for you.

"We have been fortunate because we are winning and we have had the same personnel in the team. He is a hard worker‚ massive team player and for him to miss a Test is unfortunate but we have to understand the processes.‚” said Elgar.

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Elgar was South Africa’s most successful batsman in the three match series against New Zealand which the Proteas won 1-0 as he ended as tour as the leading scorer with 265 runs which included a century in the drawn match in Dunedin.

“I could not have written the script better for myself in the first Test‚ it was disappointing we could not get the result in that game because we were really on the front foot but it was good to have a solid start in a series‚” he said.

Elgar will not be having a rest as he is due to fly to England to link up with Somerset which is an opportunity that he said will help him to get used to the English conditions.

“I am fortunate that I am going to play county cricket which is one of my objectives with regard to preparing for the English series from May.

"Just try to get used to the conditions a little bit and give myself the best opportunity to succeed when I return with the national team‚” he said.

TMG Digital