Domingo: ‘JP is a hell of a player’

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South Africa coach Russell Domingo has leaped to the defence of all-rounder JP Duminy, saying that the player was left out of the fifth ODI against England due to workload, not due to poor form.

While Duminy has not score a half ton in his past six ODIs, he did score 47 on Port Elizabeth, and then a vital 31 in Johannesburg as the Proteas levelled the series. Domingo felt the criticism was unwarranted.

Domingo said: "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 (31 actually) and played beautifully in Johannesburg and then he got to the spinner. He is not in bad form. He is actually playing really well.

"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."

Domingo was also asked why batsman David Miller did not get a run in the side, even with Duminy sitting the fifth match out. Rilee Rossouw came in instead of Miller, and Domingo said it was purely a case of bad luck, given the glut of middle order batsmen.

The coach added: "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."

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