Domingo: Steyn still Proteas' top bowler

Omnisports

May 25, 2016 8:08 AM

South Africa may have been without Dale Steyn for much of 2016 but Russell Domingo expects him to lead their attack later this year.

___5076300___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___5076300___2016___5___26___5___dalesteyn-cropped_1s1jydzxu6s2z1t58ebaico4l5_2

Dale Steyn may be absent from South Africa's tri-series in the West Indies but coach Russell Domingo is confident he can still deliver on the international stage.

Steyn was omitted from the Proteas squad to give other seamers the chance to impress, while allowing the 32-year-old the chance to rest ahead of upcoming Test series against New Zealand and Australia.

Domingo has no doubt the experienced campaigner remains South Africa's top bowler, and has backed him to return to form.

"Dale is a champion bowler and with great bowlers like that, when people start questioning and writing them off, they produce the goods," Domingo told a media conference.

"We've got a lot of Test cricket ahead and we've got five ODIs in South Africa against Australia which I am confident he will be part of.

"He has got a lot of cricket to still offer South Africa. Dale is our number one go-to guy in Test cricket. He will lead this attack for a while still."

Wayne Parnell is one of the players handed a chance to impress in Steyn's absence, and Domingo is encouraged to see how he fares after 11 months out of the international equation.

Domingo added: "I've always thought Wayne Parnell is a special cricketer with a lot of ability. I am just so pleased that he has gone into domestic cricket and done exactly what was required.

"We are pleased that he is developing. That was all it was. He needed to get some game time and play week in, week out, get some overs under his belt and get his confidence where it needs to be, because touring as a fringe player, you don't get a lot of game time and it can easily set you back as a player."

Omnisports