England |

Picture: Mike Holmes

By George Byron

PORT Elizabeth’s Russell Domingo was busy packing away his fishing tackle as he prepared to embark on one of the most gruelling international cricketing itineraries ever undertaken by a South African cricket team.
For the next few months Domingo, the Proteas assistant coach, will concentrate all his energy on helping his team land the biggest fish of their careers – the scalp of the England cricket team.
Bluewater Bay-based Domingo, a self-confessed “fishing fanatic”, started his cricketing trip around the world with a short tour to Zimbabwe on Sunday June 17. From Zimbabwe the team travel to Switzerland for a team-building “adventure camp” before they arrive in England in July for a demanding two-month tour against the world’s No 1 ranked nation.
They will barely have time to catch their breaths before they board another plane for the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.
Once the World Cup is over the Proteas still have a tough away test series against Australia to negotiate. They also have two home series lined up against New Zealand and Australia this summer.
“Living out of a suitcase for nine months will be a big challenge for me because it will be new to me. I have never toured that much before and it will be a routine of training, match and travel days for quite a few months,” said the 37-year-old highly-rated former Warriors coach.
“This is a fantastic time to be involved with the Proteas and it is going be a wonderful experience to be on tour with South Africa’s best players and see so many different places,” said Domingo.
Domingo, who along with head coach Gary Kirsten will be masterminding South Africa’s bid to topple England, says he will miss his home, quality time with his family and fishing with his mates.
“It will be tough to be away from my wife Genevieve for so long and my sons Kyle and Liam are both at important ages and I am sure they will miss me.
“Of course I will also miss my fishing. I am crazy about fishing and try to get down to the river or sea at least three or four times a week.”
Domingo, who toured New Zealand with the Proteas earlier this year, said his late father Wendell had introduced him to cricket. “I can thank him for passing on his love and passion for the game.”

This is a shortened version of an article that first appeared in the print edition of Weekend Post on Saturday June 16 2012.