The Twenty20 coach will take over from Gary Kirsten in August.
Following the announcement from current South Africa coach Gary Kirsten that he will not be continuing in his role after August, Cricket South Africa (CSA) have wasted no time in appointing Russell Domingo as his replacement.
The 38-year-old Domingo has been Kirsten’s assistant since June 2011 and is also the current Twenty20 coach of the national team.
As such he seems like the natural successor to the present coach – who announced that he would not be carrying on after his contract runs out in August on Friday.
“This is a very big day in my life,” Domingo was quoted on BBC Sport.
“It has to be the highlight in anybody’s coaching career to be given the honour and responsibility of being put in charge of your national side,”
Kirsten’s last act as Proteas head coach will be to lead the one-day side during next month’s Champions Trophy tournament in England.
It will be a difficult task for Domingo to emulate his predecessor as South Africa have risen to the No.1 spot in the ICC Test rankings under Kirsten’s guidance.
An impressive year in 2012 saw the South Africans rise up the standings with victory over former top side England.
Proteas players Dale Steyn, Hasim Amla and Jacques Kallis all top the bowling, batting and all-rounder lists respectively and paceman Vernon Philander particularly flourished under Kirsten after the coach gave him his international debut.
Whether South Africa can continue their dominance under their new coach remains to be seen.
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