Domingo's extension serves as World Cup motivation

Russell Domingo's contract extension, which will keep him as South Africa's head coach until April 2016, will serve as an incentive to break new ground at the next year's World Cup. That is the belief of former South Africa coach Eric Simons who does not think Domingo will regard the endorsement from CSA's board as a cushion of safety ahead of a tournament South Africa has never triumphed in.

"I don't think any coach would not want to win a World Cup, especially a coach of South Africa because of the history, so even though he knows his job is not on the line, he will definitely want to do well there," Simons, who was in charge of South Africa at the 2003 World Cup, told ESPNcricinfo. "Actually, it will be motivation because it shows confidence in him. I don't think he will relax but it will allow him to be more free-thinking and trust his instincts."

Domingo has already been in charge for one major tournament, the World T20 in March-April. South Africa exited at semi-final stage and Domingo was heavily criticised for his tactics, with the bulk of the nay-sayers focused on his use of AB de Villiers. Pundits wanted to see de Villiers bat higher than No. 5, because they believed South Africa's best batsman should have maximum time at the crease, but Domingo relied on statistics which proved de Villiers performed better when a platform had been laid for him.

Domingo's dependence on numbers came under scrutiny and a popular sentiment was that he lacked the natural nous required to read a game. That perception was fuelled by Domingo's background which includes no competitive level cricket experience. By his own admission, Domingo did not think he would cut it as a cricketer and gave up the game in his early 20s to concentrate on coaching.

Now, Simons has rubber-stamped those same instincts because he has seen how they work. "Russell seems very clear in his thinking and he comes across well in interviews. I've enjoyed that," he said. "And the team is getting it right too. The players are playing with freedom so the mix is good and the signs are good that he is doing the right thing."

Among the decisions Domingo has taken which have paid off handsomely are installing Faf du Plessis at No. 3 in both Tests and ODIs to plug the gap left by Jacques Kallis. Both Kallis and Graeme Smith retired within the first nine months of Domingo's tenure to leave South Africa on unstable ground and the effects of that was visible in their results.

On Domingo's first assignment, South Africa suffered their worst ODI series loss in almost a decade when they were beaten 1-4 in Sri Lanka in July 2013. They went on to draw a Test series against Pakistan in the UAE and win the ODI rubber which followed. At home, South Africa lost an ODI series against Pakistan but beat India in both ODIs and Tests before losing a first Test series in five years during Domingo's tenure, when they lost to Australia. The World T20 came immediately but then there was a break, which allowed time for South African cricket to settle.

After a brief winter, South Africa returned to Sri Lanka, won a one-day series and the Test series. A South African Test side had not beaten Sri Lanka in a Test for 21 years before their recent triumph. They also went on to a big victory in Zimbabwe that will extend their unbeaten Test series record on the road to nine years.

The smoothness with which South Africa slid from a summer of stuttering to starting Domingo's second year in charge with success prompted his contract extension. "The administrators would have assessed his performance and taken a long-term view on him," Simons said.

That distant lens will also ensure Domingo is around for a pair of high-profile Test series in the next two years. Although South Africa will only play Tests against West Indies at home and Bangladesh away in the next 12 months, the latest version of the FTP has them due to tour India late in 2015 and host England in the 2015-16 summer. Both those series are scheduled as four Test contests and expected to gave a significant say in South Africa's ability to maintain their hold on the Test mace. CSA have made it clear they are prepared to entrust Domingo with that job.

His support staff, which includes assistant Adrian Birrel, bowling coach Allan Donald and spin consultant Claude Henderson, do not have the same guarantees. Their contracts are currently being renegotiated, but given that the national coach often has the jurisdiction to pick his partners, they are likely to be kept on.