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With the administrative unrest that has engulfed Cricket South Africa (CSA) temporarily on hold as the interim board prepares to clean up the game, the hope for many is that attention will return to the field of play.
World Champions over 50 England arrived in the country on Tuesday and, between November 27 and December 9, they will play in three T20 and three ODI against the Proteas.
It will be the South African men’s team’s first international cricket since March, before the global coronavirus pandemic struck, and all matches will be played in the Western Cape between Newlands and Boland Park.
Given everything that has happened, generally and in South African cricket, over the past eight months, having the Proteas back in the park will be a sigh of relief for administrators, players and fans.
The Proteas will likely go into the limited overs series like the ones below, especially considering that England have played international cricket recently.
Still, a look at the 24-man South African squad for the series suggests there’s plenty to get excited about for the hosts.
This was the new convener for the first squad announcement of the selectors Victor Mpitsang since taking office, and was greeted with a general nod of approval.
There is a remarkable mix between pedigree experience and youth.
Here, Sport24 takes a look at six Young players, in terms of international experience, if not old, who could use a couple of solid performances against England to solidify their positions as a natural fit for Proteas.
This, in many ways, is the beginning of a new era in South African cricket and with a T20 World Cup in India scheduled for next year, all players now have a chance to prove to Mpitsang and head coach Mark Boucher that belong to this level.
Glenton’s Companion
Stuurman may be 28, but he’s a bit late when it comes to professional cricket and only in recent seasons has he started to garner some national attention on the Warriors. Stuurman is the only limitless player on the Proteas team. His control and precision are his greatest strengths, and he is rated incredibly high by those who have played him recently on the national circuit.
Bjorn fortuin
Fortuin, one of the four left arm spinner specialists in the Proteas squad, already knows international cricket, but the opportunities have been extremely limited. Operating out of the Lions, he is a player who has been consistently impressive at the franchise level for an extended period of time and his call-up here is just a reward for that. With Imran Tahir not included, there will be chances for other spinners to claim his claim, and Fortuin will know it.
George linde
Linde (28) played only one round for the Proteas in India last year, but it is on the domestic circuit with the Cobras that he has been most impressive. Linde has won numerous games for her team, in all formats, and has the ability to collect a lot of terrain quickly. His explosive hitting also makes him a very attractive option on the order, especially in a limited Proteas setup that has struggled with that depth in recent years.
Janneman Malan
The 24-year-old was brilliant earlier in the year, scoring 124 * in just his second ODI against Australia. With Aiden Markram not included, there is a vacancy alongside Quinton de Kock at the top of the Proteas order and Malan is ready to make that place his own. He could use more runs against England though, because players like Reeza Hendricks and Temba Bavuma are waiting.
Nothing Sipamla
The exciting 22-year-old already has four ODIs and five T20Is to his name, but these series present Sipamla with another chance to show people why he’s accompanied by so much hype. With Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi leading the way, Proteas’ fast bowling department suddenly has a quality look, and with players like Junior Dala and Beuran Hendricks also in the mix, there is strong competition for places.
Kyle verreynne
Verreynne gave a solid description of himself in his first ODI series against the Australians in March and is a player with the brightest future from Proteas. It is flexible enough to float up and down in order, while you can also wear your wicketkeeping gloves. Verreynne is only 23 years old, so any time in between in her home province for the next several weeks will be beneficial to her growth.
– Compiled by Lloyd Burnard
