Crucial tournament looms for Domingo

A year from today, South Africa could embark on (yet another) major tournament trophy hunt with a new coach. That's not just because Russell Domingo is under pressure to keep his job, which he is, but because his contract expires at the end of April 2017 and the only way he can ensure he is awarded another is by improving his record in the next few months, specifically in the upcoming triangular series in the Caribbean.

The tournament, against West Indies and Australia, is Domingo's best chance to show that he can turn things around for two reasons. Firstly, 50-over cricket is his strongest suit, so if South Africa are to be convinced he is the right man to help them win a trophy, it will likely be in this format and, secondly, even though South Africa have a busy schedule over the next few months, he won't have many more building-phase opportunities like this.

Under Domingo, South Africa have performed the best in ODIs, where they are also the highest-ranked, in third position. Since July 2013, when Domingo took over, they have won 38 out of 64 ODIs - 60% of matches played - including series wins in Sri Lanka, India, and a tri-series final against Australia in Zimbabwe. Domingo isn't too far behind in T20 internationals either, with 20 victories from 35 games, a success rate of 57% and a ranking of fourth, but his Test numbers lag far behind. In the three years he has been in charge, South Africa have played 23 Tests, won eight, lost eight and drawn seven, which is a win percentage of just 35. They have fallen from No. 1 to No. 6.

On the evidence of those numbers, trusting Domingo with taking the team to the Champions Trophy seems like a good idea. To do that, South Africa will also have to trust him with all the cricket before that, which includes 22 ODIs (or 23 if they make the final in the Caribbean), 11 Tests and four T20 internationals, and matches after that if he is given a contract extension.

Domingo's position was one of the aspects of national team performance that was supposed to have been reviewed by an independent four-person panel. However, the process has been discontinued. That does not release the pressure on him though, especially ahead of a summer which begins earlier than usual with two Tests against New Zealand in August.

If CSA are seeking a new coach, they will probably want to put that man in place before their big assignment of the summer, a Test tour of Australia in November. If Domingo is given the green light to continue, it will likely mean he will keep the job for the Champions Trophy because even though his contract expires in April, South Africa don't play any cricket between then and June, and are unlikely to want to give a new candidate the job ahead of a major tournament.

Given that time frame and the schedule, Domingo has limited time to show what he can do, perhaps as short as the next three months. After the ODIs in the Caribbean, South Africa have July off. After hosting New Zealand for two Tests, they play an ODI against Ireland in September, and five against Australia at home before travelling to the country for three Tests. They then return home for a full series against Sri Lanka before heading to New Zealand in February-March next year for a T20 international, five ODIs and three Tests.

It is conceivable that unless Domingo produces good results in the Caribbean and puts the Test team back on track against New Zealand, someone else could be at the helm come the ODIs in September. That means there is much more at stake in what seems to be a throwaway triangular series that will probably fall into the realms of the forgotten as soon as it is over. But does Domingo know that?

He has spoken of the next few months as the start of a new era, an "exciting time" for the team and for himself, and has declared himself "fresh and ready to go". He has also made clear his intention in the West Indies. "To win," he said at the team's departure press conference last week. "Winning is important, the public demands it, the cricket people demand it." And now, the future of his job demands it too.