Domingo won’t give up on struggling batsmen

South Africa head coach Russell Domingo is not even close to considering dropping some of his senior batsmen, saying the likes of Faf du Plessis and JP Duminy deserve a chance to find form again.
South Africa's top order has been struggling in recent months, with Du Plessis, Duminy and Hashim Amla all failing to register meaningful scores in a string of Tests. Du Plessis, for example, averaged less than 17 in 2015.
But Domingo says he has every faith that they will find their feet soon, in this series against England, despite batting failures seeing the Proteas lose to India and the first Test of the current series.
Domingo said: "When you have got players the calibre of Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Faf du Plessis, with proven records, performances under pressure and big hundreds when it counts, you know they are one or two innings away from a big score and you've got to keep believing in that.
"Whether it's for five or 10 innings, I can't tell you that. You've just got to believe that they are going to make a score at some stage."
Domingo then advised his players to stay away from social media and the internet, to avoid reading the negative and critical responses to the team's current predicament.
He said: "It's important for our team to stay a really tight unit and try and keep the noise out.
"There will be a lot said, a lot written about and a lot of comments on Twitter and Facebook, and to try keep the noise out and keep in mind what this team is capable of is going to be the important thing for us."
The second of four Tests will be played in Cape Town from 2 January.
Latest
-
News
Zak Crawley outdone by Ben Compton as Kent start strongly at Northamptonshire
Opener Compton stole the show with an unbeaten 125.
-
News
Mark Wood admits frustration over slow progress from elbow surgery
Wood is targeting a Test return towards the back end of the summer.
-
News
McCullum hopes ‘attractive brand of Test cricket’ can see red-ball game thrive
New head coach Brendon McCullum is looking to transform England’s fortunes.
-
News
Effects of lockdown on bowlers may be playing part in spate of stress fractures
In the past week Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood and Matthew Fisher have all been ruled out for the season with lower back injuries.
-
News
Ben Stokes to be subject of Amazon documentary created by Sam Mendes
The 30-year-old will open up on his World Cup and Headingley heroics as well as his off-the-field troubles.
-
News
Jofra Archer setback adds to England’s fast bowling injury crisis
Saqib Mahmood, Jofra Archer and Matthew Fisher have all been ruled out for the season this week.
-
News
England bowler Jofra Archer sidelined for the summer after injury setback
Archer has suffered a stress fracture of the lower back.
-
News
Paul Farbrace: Che Simmons may play for England after signing Warwickshire deal
The 18-year-old has signed a three-year contract.
-
News
Paul Collingwood ‘desperate to help out’ new England coaches, says Rob Key
Australia’s Matthew Mott has been appointed to lead the white-ball team, with Brendon McCullum the new man in charge of the Test side.
-
News
Matt Parkinson out of England squad with Harry Brook and Matthew Potts included
James Anderson and Stuart Broad are back.