Neil McKenzie named as batting coach for South Africa

Former South African batsman Neil McKenzie has been named the South African batting coach ahead of the T20 series against England and the World T20 in March. South African head coach Russell Domingo said that McKenzie’s vast experience of playing overseas cricket would come in handy.

The details of McKenzie’s contract states that he would be coach on a short-term basis until the conclusion of the World T20. However, should things work out with the board, McKenzie can possibly stay on for a longer term.

“Neil has played a lot of cricket both locally and overseas. The main thing is the relationship he is able to develop with players. As a coach that’s one of the most important ingredients: being able to work with people and get people to understand and listen to some ideas you have on a particular skill,” Domingo said. “Some guys may have a lot of knowledge but often it’s the way of putting it across that might not be the best way. That’s the most important thing and I think he will be really good at that.”

“Neil will work with us until the end of the T20 World Cup,” he added. “Things will be assessed from there, it’s the end of the cricket season, and we will look at things going forward.”

Neil McKenzie has shared the dressing room with the likes of Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers, thus making it a little easier for him to gain the trust of the players in the side.

Domingo also went on to reinforce the selection of the squad ahead of the 1^st T20 against England on Saturday. He also gave an interesting update on the exclusion of JP Duminy from the 5^th ODI as well as David Miller.

“In JP’s last few innings, like in Port Elizabeth, he had a good partnership with AB got a very average decision, missing leg stump. In Centurion, he didn’t bat. And the next game he got 35 and played beautifully in Johannesburg and then he got to the spinner. He is not in bad form. He is actually playing really well,” Domingo said.

“JP is a phenomenal cricketer and has been for a long period of time. If a player misses out once or twice, gets a bad decision, hits a few bad shots, people write him off. JP is a hell of a player and I am expecting big things from him at the World T20. As much as people try and keep criticism away from you and media speculation and constant scrutiny, it can weigh you down sometimes. JP has played every one-day game for the last six-seven months so it was a good time to have a bit of a break.”

As for the exclusion of David Miller, Domingo went on to state that he was a bit unlucky with the rest of the players coming in. Rilee Russow has been preferred ahead of Miller in the recently concluded ODI series.

“It’s difficult to leave out Quinny, Hashim, Faf. It’s really difficult to leave out AB. Then, Rilee has come back in. There’s always going to be so somebody that’s unlucky. My son feels he should be playing 13 A, he is playing 13 Bs.” Perhaps McKenzie has some work to do with Domingo junior as well,” Domingo said