Domingo confident AB’s void can be filled

South Africa coach Russell Domingo has full faith in the group of batsmen for use in the upcoming ODI against Ireland on Sunday, despite the unavailability of the No.1 ranked AB de Villiers due to injury.
Domingo says De Villiers' absence will be an 'opportunity for someone make a play', and is confident the rest of the established batsmen in the squad will be just as effective and successful.
"It's not ideal, but it's part of the game," he said of De Villiers' injury on Thursday. We will assess him next week, hopefully he passes (the fitness test) and if he doesn't we will have to move on.
It's difficult to replace a player of AB’s ability but it's a great opportunity for someone to make a play and do something massive for the team.
"We have some quality players in the squad," he said enthusiastically. "JP (Duminy), Faf (Du Plessis), Quinton de Kock, Miller, Farhaan (Behardien), Rilee (Rossouw), Temba (Bavuma), there is a lot of ability there.
"I'm confident that those players can do it. We have some high quality players who have done it before and I see no reason why they shouldn't do it this time as well."
The squad boasts a number of exciting new faces, one of the newest being Temba Bavuma, whom Domingo confirmed will open the batting at Sahara Park Willowmoore on Sunday.
All-rounders, Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius have been rewarded for their performances at South Africa A level, and add good balance with their capabilities with both bat and ball.
"Temba has got really good attributes for an opening batsmen," Domingo said. "He is really good in terms of his technique, he is a guy that can bat for long periods of time and he can hit the bad ball for four.
"Maybe at this stage in his one-day career he is probably not suited coming in at five or six and trying to hit fours and sixes at the backend.
"I think it allows him a nice start to international one-day cricket because he can play normally," he explained.
"If he hits a good cricket shot in the first five or six overs it will go for four but if he hits a good cricket shot in the last 10 overs it might go for one. It's a nice spot for him to try and find a niche in one-day cricket.
"I know he has opened the batting on one or two occasions for the Lions and I'm very excited to see what he can offer."
Latest
-
News
Essex’s slim hopes of winning County Championship dented by Northamptonshire
Essex need at least 400 to have any chance of claiming top spot.
-
News
Matthew Mott: Jofra Archer ‘desperate to play but realistic’ ahead of World Cup
The 28-year-old is not expected to be ready to return to action until the tournament is close to a conclusion.
-
County Cricket
Umpire Sue Redfern makes history in County Championship match at Glamorgan
Redfern became the first woman to stand as an umpire in a men’s first-class match in England and Wales.
-
England
England’s summer ends in soggy fashion and prompts a call for innovation
The one-day international against Ireland at Bristol was abandoned.
-
England
England win ODI series against Ireland after play is abandoned at Bristol
Ben Duckett had scored a century and Phil Salt 61 off just 28 balls before rain stopped play.
-
England
Marcus Trescothick says Andrew Flintoff ‘sprinkling gold-dust’ on England team
Flintoff was initially enlisted for four ODIs against New Zealand but has hung around for the Ireland series.
-
England
Axed Jason Roy urged to remain positive with World Cup role still a possibility
The big-hitting opener was replaced by Harry Brook in England’s squad for the World Cup.
-
England
ECB unable to commit to ICEC report’s equal pay targets for men and women
The ICEC report said women were treated as “second class citizens” in cricket.
-
England
ECB set to publish response to damning report on discrimination in cricket
Richard Thompson, chair of the ECB, unreservedly apologised when the ICEC’s findings were published in June.