No Heimlich required for Proteas coach Domingo

12 February 2016 - 03:04 By Telford Vice

Russell Domingo is not bothering with a refresher course in the Heimlich manoeuvre before he goes to the World T20 in India next month. For him, South Africa are no longer chokers. "We can't do any worse than other sides that have been there in the past," Domingo said."We've been to two World Cups since I've been involved (as SA's head coach). Both times we got to the semifinals."We've won a knockout game (for the first time, at the 2015 World Cup), and we've played really good cricket in those knockout games."Sometimes you've got to take your hat off and say well played to the opposition. Both semifinals we've lost were a case in point."There has not been any choking - we've just been outplayed by teams that played better."Damn right. In the 2014 World T20, SA ran into Virat Kohli's 44-ball 72 in the semis when India won by six wickets with five balls left.In the 2015 World Cup, SA ran into a nation wearing black not in mourning but in anticipation of their team fulfilling their destiny.When South Africans are able to recover from the sting of that semifinal in Auckland last March they will see their team ended up on the wrong side in a hell of a match that graced one-day cricket at least as well as the 438 game.However, looking through the glass half-empty it is tempting to wonder whether the quality of cricket SA have played in the past year means the jury is still out. They haven't done well enough, often enough to show if they are still prone to freezing in winning positions. But through the glass half-full. SA, in T20 games, have won five of their last six.Trailing 2-1 in the one-day international series with England, South Africa are intent on levelling matters in today's fourth ODI (starting at 1.30pm) at the Wanderers in Johannesburg...

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