Question: It’s been a while. You’ve named a squad now for the trip to Namibia. How tempting was it to name one or two of the so-called bigger names in the team, bearing in mind that player management is going to be exceptionally important over the next year, with a lot of cricket coming in the summer and the bigger picture of the World Cup just more than a year away?
Shukri Conrad:
“Look, obviously, one needs to take everything into account when you look at a tour like this. The big summer that we’ve got obviously plays a part, and then whenever we have an opportunity to do both, expose a few of our younger players and then also give some of our senior guys a bit of a break because of what the summer entails. I think this is an ideal opportunity to build some international caps amongst our younger players, whilst we’re obviously keeping one eye on what the summer looks like for some of our senior guys.”
Question: Can I just confirm, is the T20 squad you’ve named also going to play in the three ODIs?
Shukri Conrad:
“Yes, Mark, that’s correct. So it’s the same squad for the entire tour.”
Question: I just wanted to check on Duan Jansen. What do you see in him and what stood out about him in particular last season? Obviously, there are a lot of similarities with his brother, but what really stood out for you in watching him for the Titans?
Shukri Conrad:
“Look, obviously, we’re constantly looking at the guys that are doing well at a domestic level, especially when it comes to building a base of all-rounders.
I mean, I’m not infatuated or fatigued with all-rounders, but I think the more quality all-rounders we have at our disposal, the better, and Duan did particularly well across all formats.
I think the one thing that stood out for me was watching that final against the Lions and how he managed quite a tricky period with the bat especially. We know that he often operates in the shadow of his twin brother, but he’s still got all the ingredients of becoming a quality all-rounder.
The broader we can make that base in terms of all-rounders, and if Duan can do half of some of the things that his twin brother has done, then I think it’s going to be a wonderful addition to our squad.
So, all formats, he did particularly well in the longer form as well for the Titans. But if you asked me what stood out, it was that knock he played in the final.
So, he’s more than a left-arm seamer. I think at a domestic level, he’s a genuine all-rounder, and hopefully he can step up to the international fold as well.”
Question: What is the latest on Tiaan van Vuuren? Was there any conversation around him being part of this tour to Namibia if he is fit, and how close is he?
Shukri Conrad:
“So, I was fortunate enough to go over to the UK and spend a bit of time with the A side there and the management. Tiaan has always been one that we’ve had our eye on, and he performed wonderfully well in the UK, so much so that I think it was Surrey that snapped him up for the One-Day Cup. Unfortunately, an injury.
Tiaan was earmarked to play in the A-series against Bangladesh A. So, we’re just waiting on what the diagnosis is, the proper diagnosis, and what his rehab programme is looking like for that A-series.
But yeah, we always felt that someone like Tiaan was going to make his mark through playing the slightly longer format, see how he stands up in the four-day competition, and then 50-over cricket and transition that way.
So, he’s definitely one of a burgeoning bunch of all-rounders that we’re looking at.
Another left-armer, swings the ball, hits the ball a long way as well. So, yeah, one to keep an eye on going into the future, but we’ll see what his injury throws up and how long it’ll take for him to get back on the park.”
Question: What did you see in Jordan Hermann?
Shukri Conrad:
“I assume you’re talking about Jordan Hermann, who was with us in New Zealand. Unfortunately, he got injured in the very first game out in Mount Maunganui.
So, Jordan’s done particularly well both domestically and at SA20 level.
He has definitely put his name up in lights, and he’s one that we strongly consider across all formats.
I think it’s a wonderful opportunity, again, for someone like Jordan to showcase what he’s about. And like I said right at the beginning, I think the more caps we can build, or the more caps we can get in amongst our younger players, when they step up in the big series, and I say this with the utmost respect to the Zimbabwe and Namibia series, but when they step up to a big series, then it’s always nice having 10 or 12 caps behind your name before you take that big step up.
So, I think Jordan’s got a bright future across all formats. And yeah, I think this is the first step in that direction.”
Question: With the launch of the Africa Cup next year and South Africa co-hosting the Cricket World Cup with Namibia and Zimbabwe, what are your views on South Africa’s involvement in developing cricket on the continent?
Shukri Conrad:
“I think we’ve got that responsibility as the, let’s call it, the big brother, to ensure that we assist where we can in the development of cricket in all of Africa.
And I think it’s a wonderful place to start with our closest neighbours in Zimbabwe and Namibia. I’m particularly looking forward to Namibia. I’ve never been, believe it or not.
And I think from there, it will grow. I know there’s been talk of an Africa Cup going forward. I know very little about it, but I’m certainly prepared to throw my weight behind that.
I think we’ve got a responsibility to cricket in all of Africa. And especially with the World Cup next year being co-hosted with, like you say, Namibia and Zimbabwe, I think it’s a wonderful opportunity to create this groundswell of excitement in the southern part of Africa. And hopefully that can spread through all of Africa as well.”
Question: Just with regards to Temba Bavuma, could you give us an update on where he is? This would have been an ideal opportunity for him to play, considering he hasn’t played international cricket in about eight months.
Shukri Conrad:
“Where he is exactly? Probably on a golf course somewhere. I’m only joking.
No, Temba’s good. He’s all good. He’s obviously being built up.
He’s all good on the injury front. He’s going to be playing some warm-up games for the Lions as they build up to the season. I think that will be in the slightly longer format.
In fact, I had a chat with Allan Donald and Russell the other day. So Temba’s going to be playing a lot of their warm-up games.
Temba’s big mission is obviously, or our big mission, the ODI series against Australia, but more importantly, the Test series against Australia.
And as we build towards the summer, the Test series is the priority. All the Tests are the priority. And we need to make sure that not only Temba, but all of our players are primed for that.
So I’m very comfortable with where Temba is at.
And yeah, we will definitely see him take the field for that first ODI against Australia.”
Question: Just in regard to Nqaba Peter, you’ve got a host of left-arm spinners that you can choose from, but nobody really in the mould of Nqaba. Is that the reason for bringing him back?
Shukri Conrad:
“Yeah, I think wrist spinners are a rare breed and they take a bit of time.
He was with us when we toured Australia and played in a T20 game there. He’s definitely someone that we’ve still got our eye on going forward.
We don’t have a wrist spinner, so to speak, and we see the value of wrist spin, especially in T20 cricket and ODI cricket.
So I think this is a great opportunity for Nqaba to get back on the horse again. We’re obviously going to provide him with every opportunity, and similarly all of our spinners.
I think the race is on for the spinners’ berths for the World Cup, and this is the first part of that race.
We’ve got, like you mentioned, a few left-arm spinners. Don’t forget you’ve got someone like Simon Harmer who could force his way in.
So we’ve got a few spinners that we want to give opportunities to, and certainly in this series, I think it’s a great opportunity to get Nqaba back in and see how he goes from there.”
Question: Is the World Cup being in South African conditions why you’re possibly looking at more seam-bowling all-rounders going forward?
Shukri Conrad:
“I love how you answer the question and then put a name in my mouth as well.
Look, I think we’ve got to obviously look at all the options available to us. There’s a lot of water that still has to flow under this bridge.
I see drop-in pitches are being put in all across the country, so I’m still waiting to hear whether we’re going to use drop-in pitches for the World Cup and how that’s going to react.
We’re still wanting to hear whether all the matches are going to be day games or whether they’ll be day-night games. With early morning starts in October and November, there’s lots to think about.
You’re probably going to lean a bit towards the seamer side, but if you’ve got quality spinners, we’ve seen how big a role they can play as well.
I think our form of late has shown that we’ve got some quality spinners. I hate to say the elder statesman, but someone like Keshav Maharaj obviously still leads the pack in that regard, but I think he’s got a few guys who are snapping at his heels as well.
We’ll see how this pans out. We’ve still got a year. We might not have as many ODIs, but once I get clarity in terms of drop-in pitches being used and the timings of matches, then we start fashioning our side.
But I think generally, in South African conditions, you lean towards seamers more than spinners.”
Question: What are you expecting from the conditions in Namibia?
Shukri Conrad:
“Yeah, definitely. I think the match we played at the inauguration of the stadium, I don’t think it was the best wicket.
I’m not saying that because we came off second there, but I’ve certainly been watching and following a lot of the Division Two, or whatever league that is, that Namibia are playing. Hopefully they get through that well enough to qualify for the World Cup.
So, I’m expecting it to be a lot better than it was on that first day. Certainly, the scores are suggesting that it has gotten better, and I think, naturally, fresh wickets get better the more they’re played on.
So, I’m expecting nothing short of a really good facility.
I think they’ve got some wonderful people involved in Namibian cricket. Johan Muller is the CEO. I see Justin Kemp has been appointed as the Director of Cricket there as well.
So, I’m expecting a top-class facility with top-class competition. Really looking forward to it.
But I think, as it’s been the norm, we obviously try and gather as much intel as we can. Once we arrive there, you look at whatever the conditions are and we try and mould and fashion our side accordingly.”
Question: Gerald Coetzee is currently with the South Africa A side. Where does he stand in the pecking order, and how difficult has it been for him to deal with his injury struggles?
Shukri Conrad:
“Again, these conversations started when I was in the UK and Gerald joined the A side there.
He’s obviously got a burning desire to get into the Proteas Test and ODI sides.
And as you rightly say, his history is so chequered with injuries that he needs to learn to trust his body and, in turn, we then get to trust him.
I mean, we all know what Gerald’s capable of. I’ve always been a huge fan of Gerald, so much so that when I just took over the Test job, he was one of the first guys in for me.
And nothing’s changed insofar as I see him and what he can bring to the party.
I can tell you now, he was offered another gig in the UK, and he pretty much asked me to play in the A side rather than go and play in the UK because he wants to impress.
And I think that’s a wonderful start when you’ve got a Gerald Coetzee that’s hungry to impress.
We’re all hopeful that those injuries, catastrophic as you call them, are something of the past. And if there were to be another one going forward, then it would be a niggle more than anything else.
But Gerald forms a huge part of a pace attack going forward. He’s got genuine pace.
We’ve seen the value of someone with pace both in the Test side, but also, more importantly, in the ODI side.
If I go back to England and when they won the World Cup in England, I thought the unsung hero for them was someone like Liam Plunkett, who ran in and bowled in the middle periods with pace and bounce.
And I see Gerald doing a similar job if he’s fit and firing.
Gerald is a huge part of our thinking going forward. And I’m hopeful that the injury woes are something of the past and that he can put his best foot forward and compete for the Proteas in all formats again.”
Question: You mentioned the drop-in wickets. Could you touch on your knowledge of how they play and when they could come into use?
Shukri Conrad:
“The only experience I’ve got is watching it from afar, when it was employed in the T20 World Cup in America, and we all know how that played.
So, I’m not so sure when it’s going to get used, if it’s going to get used in the World Cup even.
I’d like to think that it will be used quite a bit before a decision gets made.
On a personal level, and this is not the view of Cricket South Africa or anyone, I need to add that disclaimer, I’d be disappointed if it were used in the World Cup because it nullifies whatever home advantage there is, if there is a home advantage.
And we know our conditions in South Africa are unique at every ground. I’d like to think that there would be that advantage.
So, I’ll be surprised if it gets used in the World Cup because I think it’s going to have to be used extensively throughout the summer domestically to see how it plays and how it stands up to the rigours.
And again, I think you’ll probably see the value of that after two years or so, after being used for two years.
So, the brutal honest answer is I don’t know how it plays. My hope is that it gets used domestically for, say, two years, and then it will play its part going forward after the World Cup.”
Proteas Men’s squad – Namibia white-ball tour
Bjorn Fortuin (captain, DP World Lions), Eathan Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dewald Brevis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Connor Esterhuizen (DP World Lions), Jordan Hermann (Dafabet Warriors), Rubin Hermann (North West Dragons), Duan Jansen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Kwena Maphaka (DP World Lions), Nqobani Mokoena (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nqaba Peter (DP World Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Momentum Multiply Titans), Lutho Sipamla (DP World Lions), Jason Smith (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Prenelan Subrayen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
Proteas T20I Tri-Series fixtures
Friday, 28 August – 14:00
Namibia vs South Africa
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Saturday, 29 August – 14:00
South Africa vs Zimbabwe
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Monday, 31 August – 14:00
Namibia vs Zimbabwe
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Tuesday, 1 September – 14:00
Zimbabwe vs South Africa
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Thursday, 3 September – 14:00
Namibia vs Zimbabwe
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Friday, 4 September – 14:00
Namibia vs South Africa
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Sunday, 6 September – 14:00
Final: TBC vs TBC
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
Proteas ODI fixtures
1st ODI – Wednesday, 9 September – 09:30
Namibia vs South Africa
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
2nd ODI – Friday, 11 September – 09:30
Namibia vs South Africa
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
3rd ODI – Sunday, 13 September – 09:30
Namibia vs South Africa
Namibia Cricket Ground, Windhoek
