No conflict in schedules, reveals Russell Domingo on Hampshire and Lions coaching jobs
Russell Domingo, former Proteas coach, reveals no schedule conflict between his new role with Hampshire County Cricket Club and his position with the Lions in South Africa due to limited domestic cricket, highlighting the exciting opportunity to develop as a coach with a prestigious county like Hampshire. Picture: Michael Sherman/IOL
Image: Michael Sherman/IOL
With the news earlier this week that Russell Domingo has been appointed Hampshire County Cricket Club coach, the immediate question was how he would be able to juggle that with his role with the Lions cricket team in South Africa.
Domingo points out, though, that there is so little domestic cricket played in South Africa that there is no conflict in schedules.
With Domingo having led the Proteas successfully from 2012 to 2017, including a Test series win in Australia in 2016, he is a valuable addition to Hampshire.
The 51-year-old revealed how he is able to take on the second coach role.
Domingo Discusses Limited Domestic Cricket and Exciting Hampshire Coaching Opportunity
"We play a little cricket domestically. That's what makes it easier because we hardly play as we play seven First-Class games per season," Domingo told SportsBoom.co.za.
"I mean, my domestic team, I don't play until the end of Jan, type of thing. So, we don't really play a lot of cricket here. It's just disappointing.”
As for joining Hampshire, Domingo explained it was not a difficult sell.
"That's a good opportunity to develop as a coach. Hampshire is a big County. The Lions are probably the biggest franchise in South Africa at the moment. Hampshire is one of the big, big counties to work for. I mean, they've had a great coach in [Adrian] ‘Eddie’ Birrell there for seven years.
"So, he's put together really good structures. So, it's sort of a good fit. So, and it's like, I mean, any coach, I think, at some stage of their careers would like to coach in Hampshire, and these opportunities don't come around often, particularly when it's with a big team like that. It's hard not to look at it seriously."