Timing is everything in sport, so it is only just that one must question the timing of Cricket South Africa’s announcement that they are advertising for the position of national coach, with a view to hiring someone after the tour of the UK.
As it is, they have a coach, and one who has weathered some violent storms, and emerged on the other side as a stronger man, in charge of a more resilient team. Russell Domingo, in his own, methodical manner, has proved himself at the highest level, and the latest press release of significance from his bosses can’t have enthused him much.
It has been a tough and long January for South African cricket, one which they will be glad to see the back of today. It has been one where the value of the Proteas badge and the honour of a South African cap have been called into question by factors in and around the game. Amidst all that, Domingo and Test skipper Faf du Plessis have managed to keep their eye on the ball, and built on the flourish that the side ended 2016 with.
Domingo was the first to accept that his squad’s performances were not good enough in 2015 and early 2016. Had the suits informed him then that they were looking at going in a certain direction, he wouldn’t have had a leg to stand on.
Instead, they backed him to turn a significant corner, and then allied him to Du Plessis. We now know that, in the ides of 2016, just before the New Zealand visit to these shores, the Proteas had a bosberaad, where men spoke as frankly as men must in times of crisis. They resolved to leave the past behind them and, more pertinently, to do the best they could to once more scale the mountains of glory that the Proteas had become accustomed to, in white clothing, at least.
The players also challenged Domingo to step up, and he has responded by being more demonstrative, and also appearing a lot more secure in his environment. Success on the field has helped hugely, of course, but there has been a gust of change in the man from the Windy City.
With all these steps in mind, genuine steps in the right direction, it has come as a surprise to many that Domingo was informed that his job was on the line, beyond the tour of the UK. What the announcement does is put every South African performance – especially the Champions Trophy, one would surmise – into sharp focus from now until August.
In the past, it had been the South African way to reward consistency and a measure of control with a show of faith, as Domingo’s last contract extension suggested. If it ain’t broke, why fix it, seemed to be the mantra upon which the bosses based their decisions.
And now, suddenly, this.
Perhaps they want to see what candidates may be out there. In local waters, Geoff Toyana was touted as the next in line several years ago, but he and his Lions have been confronted by stiff challenges of late, and lost a number of key players to national priorities.
Beyond that, the rest of the franchise system has men who are still cutting their teeth in the top domestic level. One wonders, then, what the thinking was in ruffling the feathers of Russell in the public manner that CSA did.
There are no guarantees in sport, and rightly so. Axings, retirements and resignations are a natural part of the healing process that comes after a major disappointment, such as an ICC tournament.
Perhaps they should have waited, and let nature take its course.