Proteas relish Kiwi battle

Throughout their 5-0 ODI series whitewash of Sri Lanka, South Africa kept their focus on how they were playing and not on the opposition, and will use the same approach against a far stronger New Zealand side.

The Black Caps are fresh off a 2-0 series win over Australia and the Proteas know there will be much more pressure on them.

“We played better cricket than Sri Lanka and our focus has just been on how we’ve been playing. But New Zealand will be a great challenge, they’re street-smart and they find ways to compete. But the way we’ve been playing, we go there with confidence and belief in our ability,” captain AB de Villiers (below) said before his team’s departure.

“We’ve played well in New Zealand before, some individuals have done very well and we have a bit of unfinished business with them from the 2015 World Cup. Beating Sri Lanka 5-0 is a great confidence-booster, it shows we’re playing very well – guys are chipping in from all ends and there have also been some great individual performances.”

Meanwhile, coach Russell Domingo spoke to the media for the first time about his future after Cricket South Africa announced at the end of last month he would have to reapply for his position.

“It’s the life of a coach, that’s professional sport, Jose Mourinho has his contract come up, I’m just Russell Domingo and the same must happen. I need to think about whether I will reapply, there’s a lot of water still to flow under the bridge – the Champions Trophy is still four months away, my focus is on New Zealand and giving it my all there and then see what happens in England. There’s family and career to think about and where I am in my life.

“There’s never a good time to be told your job is up for grabs, but the board needs to follow processes and do what they think is best,” Domingo said.