SA coach Domingo says his fast bowlers will do the job against India

Domingo and Faf du Plessis speaking to the press in New Delhi

South Africa coach Russell Domingo believes that, despite picking three spinners for the long tour of India, his fast bowlers will be able to step up and unnerve the home batting line-up.

Domingo was speaking to the press after South Africa’s first practice session. He said that having played in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the pace bowlers would be able to make use of their experience and knowledge of the conditions to get going and accomplish all their goals.

“Indian players are very good players of spin, but our fast bowlers have been successful in these conditions," said Domingo.

“Although spin is going to be a big factor during the series it is important our seamers start off well. We have got good spinners in our squad. We have the experience of Imran Tahir, we have got two promising spinners in Dane Piedt and Simon Harmer and it will be great experience for them to play against India in these conditions and in high-pressure environments," continued Domingo.

Keeping in mind the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held next year in India, speedsters Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have not been made a part of the T20 squad.

“Dale and Morne are in the plans for World T20. It will be a very long tour so we had to decide how best to manage our bowlers and we felt for Dale and Morne to be here for 75 days will be a tough ask; practising and playing day in day out,” Domingo clarified.

This will give an opportunity for the young crop of fast bowlers coming through the ranks to show their worth and impress the selectors.

“It also does allows us an opportunity to develop the next battery of fast bowlers, guys like Khaya Zondo or Kyle Abbott, the Chris Morris’s, the Marchant de Lange’s. So it’s a bit of a win-win situation for us although the World T20 is important for us. It does allow us to keep those other options and keep those guys fresh as possible for the Test and the one-dayers,” Domingo added.

Domingo felt that the presence of fiery characters in both the squads will bring in aggression to the contest. “I think both side play pretty aggressively. It is in the captaincy and leadership of Virat Kohli to play this brand of cricket," he said. "We saw a lot that during the World Cup. Their body language, bowlers had an aggressive nature and full credit to them that they have taken that part of the game forward.”

South Africa will play a Mandeep Singh-led India ‘A’ squad tomorrow in a T20 warm-up game in Delhi, before they travel to Dharamsala for the first T20 International against India which is scheduled to take place on October 2.