Cricket South Africa (CSA) has announced the intake for the 2024 CSA Emerging Academy.

The Emerging Academy, formally known as the National Academy, aims to accelerate the development of players from age-group and senior provincial cricket towards the national level by providing specialised coaching and high-performance training.

Utilising the CSA Centre of Excellence in Tshwane as their base, the men’s and women’s squads are made up of talents who have represented South Africa at the U19 level along with players who hold domestic and international experience.

The men will participate in a three-month program from May to July under the tutelage of SA U19 and Men’s Emerging Academy Coach Malibongwe Maketa.

Overseen by SA U19 and Women’s Emerging Academy Coach Dinesha Devnarain, the women’s program will run from June to July with a dedicated focus on developing batters for the national set-up.

CSA Emerging Academy – Men
Jade de Klerk (Border), Dian Forrester (Free State), Valentine Kitime (Western Province), Duan Jansen (North West), Tristan Luus (Dolphins), Dewan Marais (Easterns), Litheko Modiri (Titans), Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province), Nipho Mpungose (Free State), Nqaba Peter (Lions), Caleb Seleka (North West), Andile Simelane (Dolphins) and Ntando Zuma (KZN Inland).

CSA Emerging Academy – Women
Anneke Bosch (Titans), Annere Dercksen (Garden Route Badgers), Lara Goodall (Western Province), Gandhi Jafta (Titans), Leah Jones (Western Province), Tebogo Macheke (Titans), Oluhle Siyo (Boland), Asakhe Nyovane (Garden Route Badgers), Nondumiso Shangase (Dolphins), Kayla Reynecke (Western Province), Miane Smit (Free State), Saarah Smith (Western Province), Nkululeko Thabathe (Lions), Delmi Tucker (Western Province) and Faye Tunnicliffe (Western Province).

CSA Head of High-Performance Grant van Helden commented: “In line with the dynamic shifts in international cricket and our bold 2027 vision, the reimagining of our ‘National Academy’ marks a pivotal moment. The emergence of the 2024 CSA Emerging Academy underscores our commitment to bridging the gap between domestic and international cricket.

“By honing in on personalised technical and tactical growth over an intensive period, we’re fast-tracking the development of a select group of players and this forward-looking approach not only speaks to the immediate needs of our Proteas teams but also lays the groundwork for sustained excellence.”