The Proteas’ top bosses Rob Walter and Shukri Conrad have made it clear that their focus for the upcoming inbound tour against India is to ensure the Test side is well-equipped to clean sweep and dominate.
The duo named their respective squads for the multi-format tour today.
The tour will feature three T20Is, three One-Day Internationals, and two test matches to be played at SuperSport Park, and at the Newlands Cricket ground.
There are noticeable absentees in the T20 and ODI sides, with the duo opting to rest some of their crucial players before the test series begins on Boxing Day.
One-Day International skipper, Temba Bavuma, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen who all featured for the side in this year’s ICC Men’s Cricket World CUP will all sit out the ODI series starting on the 17th and are likely return for the first test match at SuperSport Park.
Meanwhile, the Western Province trio of Mihlali Mpongwana, Nandre Burger, and David Bedingham will be tossed right in the mix, poised to make their international debuts.
Burger, who has been described as a great accusation by Conrad was superb with the ball for Province during the season and is named in all three squads. Meanwhile, Bedingham is set to feature in the Test squad, and Mpongwana has been named in the ODI squad.
Province’s skipper, Kyle Verreynne has also been recalled to the Test squad alongside Warriors wicketkeeper batter, Tristan Stubbs who starred for the SA ‘A’ side during their tour to Sri Lanka this year.
“It wasn’t a long conversation where we agreed that the test side is the priority,” revealed Conrad.
“All our quick bowlers will be playing in that 4-Day match as well as Temba, coming back nice and refreshed. We are looking forward to a refreshed bowling attack as well as guys having adequate preparation for the Test series.”
Conrad has also opted to leave out the likes of Heinrich Klaasen and Ryan Rickelton in his test side. The two are replaced by Stubbs and Verreynne respectively, with Bedingham providing an extra option with the bat.
The 56-year-old said the players selected are best suited for the tough conditions that await the team and believes will be the perfect fit in playing against India’s bowling and batting attack.
“At the end of the day I sit down and consult quite a few people that I trust in the system, and I come up with a squad I believe can beat India at home,” said Conrad.
“I know it’s not the end of the road for Klaasen, next year we go to Bangladesh and the West Indies and I’m almost certain you will see his return.”
“When I look at how we can potentially beat India on the conditions that we going to be encountering – these are the players I believe can perform in those conditions against that Indian attack and give us the best chance of winning.”
“Going forward, the calibre and character of player we are selecting will speak to the type of cricket we want to play, and I think the selection of Stubbs Bedingham, and Verryene speak to how we want to play our cricket.”
KFC T20I Series
Sunday, 10 December
South Africa vs India – Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Tuesday, 12 December
South Africa vs India – Dafabet St George’s Park, Gqeberha
Thursday, 14 December
South Africa vs India – DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Betway ODI Series
Sunday, 17 December – Betway Pink Day
South Africa vs India – DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Tuesday, 19 December
South Africa vs India – Dafabet St George’s Park, Gqeberha
Thursday, 21 December
South Africa vs India – Boland Park, Paarl
Betway Test Series
26 December – 30 December
South Africa vs India – SuperSport Park, Centurion
03 January – 07 January
South Africa vs India – Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Proteas T20I squad:
Aiden Markram (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Ottniel Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans, 1st and 2nd T20Is), Donovan Ferreira (Momentum Multiply Titans), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors, 1st and 2nd T20Is), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans, 1st and 2nd T20Is), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors), and Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans).
Proteas ODI squad:
Aiden Markram (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Ottniel Baartman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Reeza Hendricks (DP World Lions), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (Western Province) and Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans).
Proteas Test squad:
Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), David Bedingham (Western Province), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Gerald Coetzee (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Dean Elgar (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keegan Petersen (Gbets Rocks), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors) and Kyle Verreynne (Western Province).
