Now that the 2022-2023 domestic season is complete, it’s the perfect time to reflect and look forward to some of the brightest talents that could potentially play across formats for the Proteas in the not-too-distant future. Let us know which players you are backing for a call-up.
From the 4-Day Series to the One-Day Cup, to the razzle-dazzle of the SA20, we’ve been treated to an exhibition of close contests and bolting stars.
The Proteas now have a new coaching setup, and there’s a clear emphasis on accommodating some of the relatively less experienced but more skilful young players to make the grade. And with that being said, let’s zero in on some of the big names in the making.
Jordan Hermann (all 3 formats)
The hard-hitting left-handed opening batter started off at the Titans during the previous season.
However, the relative scarcity of game time at his home team forced him to relocate to the Warriors, and that was the catalyst for change.
Hermann made 611 runs with an average of nearly 68, but that wasn’t all. He would soon break into the 50-over side, and follow that up with a contract in the SA20 for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape.
Against Boland, he smashed a 160-ball 150, and even though the Warriors lost that game, he showed impressive levels of solidity and composure.
He may not have had the best initiation to T20 cricket, but he stands out as a prospective all-format hotshot for South Africa.
Matthew Breetzke (all 3 formats)
The Proteas Test top-4 will soon have plenty of competition. With Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma notching up big scores as well as Dean Elgar approaching the twilight of his Test career, there will be a golden opportunity coming up.
Matthew Breetzke is the highest run-getter in Division 1 this season, and February has been a month to remember. Tons against the Lions and the Knights have built his confidence and exuberance.
Not only can he dig in, but he can play his shots at will. Breetzke has long been touted as a prospect for the national side, but how soon will that ambition come to fruition?
In addition, his T20 game is steadily improving, and he has put together a few sprightly knocks for Durban’s Super Giants, in spite of batting in a position that wasn’t preferred.
Dewald Brevis (ODI / T20I)
Ever since he lit up the Under-19 World Cup, all eyes have been on the clean-hitting right-hander. He went on to play in the IPL and CPL and is on course to becoming a household name in the T20 franchise circuit.
But more importantly, he was introduced to the other two formats at the domestic scene, and he has insisted that Test cricket is one of his main goals.
Among his exploits, this season was a barnstorming 162 in the T20 Challenge – the highest-ever individual score in that tournament.
There have been numerous calls for his national selection, and it’s very likely that his Proteas initiation will start off in the short formats.
In addition to his powerful batting, he can chip in with his part-time leg spin.
Donovan Ferreira (T20I)
There’s always plenty of excitement over an emerging, young big-hitter. That excitement becomes palpable when he’s a man of all trades.
Enter Donovan Ferreira: a strong middle-order enforcer who can not only bowl off-spin, but also keep wickets if necessary.
He’s been a staple feature in the short formats for the Titans, but more recently, he scored a rapid first-class ton against the Warriors. Much like Brevis, he brings plenty to the table, but he has slightly more multi-format experience under his belt.
The Rajasthan Royals signed him up for the IPL, and it’s rare to see an uncapped South African score a deal in the world’s most prominent T20 competition.
His exploits for the Joburg Super Kings have boosted his stocks, and he might have moved up a position in the pecking order for T20I selection.
Mihlali Mpongwana (Test)
The search for a true allrounder has been going on for a few years, and the answer is yet to be found. The tall, fast-bowling two-in-one who plays for Western Province could be the answer.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a breakthrough season in both the 4-day and 50-over formats. Capable of batting anywhere in the lower-middle order, Mpongwana scored a brilliant 96 in the One-Day Cup against Boland, and it was an excellent rescue act in the context of the match.
His bowling may not have regularly been among the wickets, but a 62 at No 7 against a stacked Lions attack in the penultimate first-class game rounded off a profitable season for the youngster.
Mpongwana didn’t get a deal in the SA20, but that’s a blessing in disguise since he’s made ample headway on the road to hopefully wearing the whites for the Proteas soon.
Jason Smith (Test)
It’s always a luxury to have a top-6 batter who’s able to bowl. And if Jason Smith can keep up the good work from this season and extend it to the next, he may creep ahead in the queue.
It’s fair to say that 391 runs in 6 games with an average of nearly 56 has boosted his stocks, but at the sale time, he is facing stiff competition.
Smith used to play for the Cobras, but the move across the country has earned him more frequent game time.
His bowling has taken a bit of a back seat, but he can be very handy with the ball whenever the main seamers get rested before a new spell.
Nandre Burger (ODI / T20I)
The 27-year-old Western Province left-arm seamer is yet another Proteas probable.
He did make the Proteas T20I squad during the Pakistan tour but went gameless. But he offers variety and skill with his bowling and stands a good chance of eventually breaking into the white-ball squads.
He has taken 9 wickets in 5 games during the recent 50-over tournament and maintained a respectable economy just south of 5 runs an over.
His SA20 returns for the Joburg Super Kings may not have been as relatively convincing, but in any case, Burger is one to look out for.
Eathan Bosch (T20I)
Pacy, robust, and fearless down the order, the 24-year-old Dolphins all-rounder has made confident strides across formats.
However, it was the SA20 that propped him up. Capable of economical, wicket-taking spells at any phase, Bosch offers the complete package.
There’s still an ongoing search for an allrounder that can offer the much-needed balance, and there’s a chance that he could be a potential solution.
Kyle Simmonds (Test)
There’s a lot of buzz about finding a solid pace-bowling all-rounder, but what about a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder who has had two very successful seasons for Western Province?
The numbers definitely back it up – an aggregate of 45 wickets and 407 runs across 11 first-class games. And let’s top that off with two match-winning spells in the SA20.
He may have only played three games for the Super Kings, but his 3-wicket haul against the Sunrisers included the wickets of dangerous hitters in Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen.
While most of his success has happened in the longer format, he’s able to contribute with either or both skills according to what the situation demands.
This article is from Issue 31 of our Digital Magazine. Check out the full article which includes exclusive video interviews.
Disclaimer: Cricket Fanatics Magazine encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views from fans. The views of this article published on cricketfanaticsmag.com are therefore the writer’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Cricket Fanatics Magazine team.
