Russell Domingo flies back home to be with ailing mother

South Africa coach Russell Domingo has left the England tour for the second time to be with his mother who was involved in an accident last month. Domingo had rushed back home last month during the T20 series when the accident took place and will return again as his mother is on life support which requires the 42-year old’s presence.

Domingo flew back from home during South Africa’s practice game against Worcester following his mother’s discharge from the hospital. In the absence of the head coach, batting consultant Neil McKenzie, assistant coach Andrian Birrell, bowling coach Charl Langeveldt and spin bowling consultant Claude Henderson will help prepare the side for the second Test which will kick off on Friday at Trent Bridge in Nottingham.

Domingo had reapplied for his position last month

After a lot of contemplation, Domingo reapplied for his position of the head coach, the contract of which is set to expire at the end of the 4 Tests series in England. Domingo has given great results in his tenure but hasn’t failed to end South Africa’s poor run in ICC tournaments. A 5-man panel, which includes Gary Kirsten and Eric Simons, will meet the CSA board on July 21 to screen all the applicants who have applied for the post, including Domingo.

South Africa has fared poorly in the ongoing England tour. They lost both the bilateral ODI and T20 series apart from getting knocked out in the group stages of the ICC Champions Trophy. Test cricket is considered a strong forte of this side but the visitors collapsed in the final innings of the first Test at Lord’s to hand a 221-run win to the hosts. They still have three Test matches to go in the series but by the looks of it, South Africa looks a thin side which is extremely low on confidence.

du Plessis to return

With the coach away from the team, the Proteas will be bolstered by the return of their regular skipper Faf du Plessis who missed the first Test due to personal reasons.