Russell Domingo has defended South Africa A’s poor performance during their tour to India.
South Africa A travelled to India to take on India A in a two-match four-day series, followed by a quadrangular ODI series against India A, India B and Australia A.
They were thrashed in the first four-day match by an innings and 30 runs and drew the second. No centuries were scored, with Zubayr Hamza (93) and Rudi Second (94) coming the closest.
Duanne Olivier produced the best bowling performance with match figures of 8-87 and he was the only bowler to reach double figures with 10 wickets in the series.
The quadrangular ODI series saw SA A pick up only one victory out of four matches as India B won the series. Khaya Zondo’s 117 was the only hundred in the ODIs and Dane Paterson’s 5-19 the best bowling performance.
Despite the lack of positive results, Domingo refrained from criticising his side.
‘The guys didn’t play as badly as the results make it look like,’ said Domingo.
‘In the first Test we fought back and nearly hung on for a draw; we lost with seven balls to spare. In the second Test, we were in quite a good position but there was a lot of rain around.’
Domingo says the results were due to the lack of game time compared to their opposition.
‘India A have played 10 four-day games in the last four months and our guys are coming off a winter break and straight into cricket against guys who have just toured England and played against the West Indies‚’ Domingo said.
‘Those are the challenges you face with the A side‚ where guys aren’t playing enough cricket together as a group.
‘The more games these guys are exposed to, the better‚ and at the moment there’s not enough. The next A tour is scheduled for July 2019‚ I think.’
SA A have played 10 games in 2018‚ less than half of India A’s total of 28. The Australia A side have had nine matches in 2018.
‘There’s obviously a concern because the A side’s performance over the last two years hasn’t been fantastic‚’ Domingo said.
SA A have won nine of the 31 matches they have played‚ and lost 19‚ since July 2016.
Photo: Chris Ricco/BackpagePix
