Schalk Engelbrecht of Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool of Pretoria was announced as the captain of the South African Schools’ side of 2021.

The team was announced at the start of the final day of the Khaya Majola Cricket Week in Potchefstroom by the convenor of selectors, Patrick Moroney.

Engelbrecht is the third player from Affies to captain the national schools’ side. The first was Jacques Rudolph in 1999 before Francois le Clus in 2004.

SACS from Cape Town is the school with the most representatives in the national team with two players, Meeka-eel Prince and Liyema Waqu, getting the nod from the selectors.

The two national sides won’t play any matches this year. The selection panel also picked 13 players per team to receive their caps in 2021. The panel consisted of Moroney, Deon Botes, Graham October, Gregg Hobson, and Burton de Wet.

The captain of Free State, Joe Meyer (St. Andrew’s School), was named the captain of the SA Colts-side. Meyer recorded a century on the fourth day to secure his place in the team. The highest wicket-taker of the week so far, Nicholas Adendorff, also made the Colts-side.

SA Schools & SA Colts Teams for 2021:
SA Schools: Schalk Engelbrecht (Captain) (Affies, Titans), Christiaan Daniels (Menlopark, Titans), Khaya Fakhude (King Edward VII, Lions), Ronan Hermann (Noordheuwel, Titans), Nathan Jacobs (New Orleans, Boland), Bongile Mfunelwa (Rondebosch Boys’ High, Western Province), Meeka-eel Prince (SACS, Western Province), Jesse Prodehl (Wynberg Boys’ High, Western Province), Richard Seletswane (St Stithians College, Lions), Nathan Trevethan (Westville Boys’ High, KwaZulu-Natal), Slade van Staden (Hilton College, KwaZulu-Natal Inland), Alexander Vermeulen (Michaelhouse, KwaZulu-Natal Inland), Liyema Waqu (SACS , Western Province).

SA Colts: Joe Meyer (Captain) (St. Andrew’s School, Free State), Nicholas Adendorff (Merensky, Limpopo), Abdullah Bayoumy (Newlands Cricket High, Western Province), Basil George (Sao Bras Secondary, South Western Districts), Kyle Glennistor (Northcliff High School, Lions), Olwakhe Goqoza (Victoria Park High, Eastern Province), Juan James (Wynberg Boys’ High, Western Province), JP King (St. John’s College, Lions), Chad Laycock (Glenwood, KwaZulu-Natal), Bathabile Masigo (Die Wilge, North West), Nhlanhla Mashego (Dalpark High School, Easterns), Dewan Marais (Marais Viljoen, Easterns), Shelton Ngobeni (Phalaborwa HUB, Limpopo).

Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images