Domingo's search for new heroes is on

News

Cricket365
June 9, 2014

Coach Russell Domingo is looking forward to a South African squad lined with relatively new faces succeeding, despite the absence of the veteran Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis, during this month's tour of Sri Lanka.

All-rounder Jacques Kallis retired from Test match cricket in December 2013, while Smith quit all forms of international competition earlier this year, shortly after the Proteas' series loss to Australia.

The uncapped Dane Piedt and Stiaan van Zyl have since been called up, while wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been included in a touring Test squad for the first time.

The left-handed Dean Elgar, meanwhile, is expected to open the batting. More onus, too, will be placed on the inexperienced Wayne Parnell – and new captain Hashim Amla.

"Kallis, Smith, they are going to be hard to replace. But the game goes on," Domingo told <i>ESPNcricinfo</i>. "We've now got to start trying to find some new icon players and some new heroes and we've got some of those in the group already.

"There are some fresh young players so it's an exciting time for our team. It's not going to be love and fresh air all the time. There are going to be some tough tours and some tough sessions for us but we've got the nucleus of a good side at the moment.

"As a coach, it's always exciting to have a new direction to go in and you can leave your print on the team a bit easier with some new players coming in."

The Sri Lankans and South Africans will meet for three ODIs – in Colombo, Pallekele and Hambantota – and two Tests – in Galle and Colombo – between 6 and 28 July.