Cape Town - Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday named a squad of 24 players from which the South Africa A side will be selected for two four-day ‘Test’ matches against Sri Lanka A at Kingsmead in Durban and for a triangular one-day series against Zimbabwe A and Sri Lanka A in Zimbabwe.
Faf du Plessis of the Titans will captain the South Africans in both formats while there are four newcomers to South Africa A level in Highveld Lions batsman Temba Bavuma, Highveld Lions all-rounder Chris Morris and two spin bowlers, Simon Harmer of the Warriors and Aaron Phangiso of the Highveld Lions.
“Du Plessis has been a leader for most of his cricketing life and the fact that he has not had much opportunity to do this at franchise level is more a reflection on the fact that national players are not available for their franchises on a regular basis,” commented CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson.
“Faf has been enormously impressive both in the Proteas’ Castle Lager ODI squad and more recently in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he has shown how much he has matured as an international cricketer.
“The four newcomers to the South Africa A side have all done very well in franchise cricket this season and it is yet another example of impressive talent coming through the system and bidding for higher honours.
“It is very exciting that we can choose such a large squad in the realisation that all of them are potential future Proteas.
“Vinnie (Vincent) Barnes will coach both squads and these will be finalised after a training camp under his direction in Cape Town from June 18," said Hudson.
South Africa A squad:
Faf du Plessis (Titans, captain), Kyle Abbott (Dolphins), Temba Bavuma (Highveld Lions), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Marchant de Lange (Titans), Dean Elgar (Knights), Quinton Friend (Knights), Simon Harmer (Warriors), Reeza Hendricks (Knights), Colin Ingram (Warriors), Rory Kleinveldt (Cape Cobras), Heino Kuhn (Titans), Richard Levi (Cape Cobras), Pumelela Matshikwe (Highveld Lions), Ryan McLaren (Knights), David Miller (Dolphins), Chris Morris (Highveld Lions), Justin Ontong (Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Aaron Phangiso (Highveld Lions), Rilee Rossouw (Knights), Thami Tsolekile (Highveld Lions), Stiaan van Zyl (Cape Cobras), Dane Vilas (Cape Cobras)
Fixtures:
South Africa A v Sri Lanka A (four-day series):
June 30-July 3, Kingsmead
July 7-10, Kingsmead
Sri Lanka will have a warm-up match against a Dolphins XI from June 24-26
Triangular ODI series in Zimbabwe:
July 13, South Africa A v Sri Lanka A
July 14, Zimbabwe A v Sri Lanka A
July 15, Zimbabwe A v South Africa A
July 17, South Africa A v Sri Lanka A
July 18, Zimbabwe A v South Africa A
July 19, Zimbabwe A v Sri Lanka A
July 21, Final
Faf du Plessis of the Titans will captain the South Africans in both formats while there are four newcomers to South Africa A level in Highveld Lions batsman Temba Bavuma, Highveld Lions all-rounder Chris Morris and two spin bowlers, Simon Harmer of the Warriors and Aaron Phangiso of the Highveld Lions.
“Du Plessis has been a leader for most of his cricketing life and the fact that he has not had much opportunity to do this at franchise level is more a reflection on the fact that national players are not available for their franchises on a regular basis,” commented CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson.
“Faf has been enormously impressive both in the Proteas’ Castle Lager ODI squad and more recently in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he has shown how much he has matured as an international cricketer.
“The four newcomers to the South Africa A side have all done very well in franchise cricket this season and it is yet another example of impressive talent coming through the system and bidding for higher honours.
“It is very exciting that we can choose such a large squad in the realisation that all of them are potential future Proteas.
“Vinnie (Vincent) Barnes will coach both squads and these will be finalised after a training camp under his direction in Cape Town from June 18," said Hudson.
South Africa A squad:
Faf du Plessis (Titans, captain), Kyle Abbott (Dolphins), Temba Bavuma (Highveld Lions), Farhaan Behardien (Titans), Marchant de Lange (Titans), Dean Elgar (Knights), Quinton Friend (Knights), Simon Harmer (Warriors), Reeza Hendricks (Knights), Colin Ingram (Warriors), Rory Kleinveldt (Cape Cobras), Heino Kuhn (Titans), Richard Levi (Cape Cobras), Pumelela Matshikwe (Highveld Lions), Ryan McLaren (Knights), David Miller (Dolphins), Chris Morris (Highveld Lions), Justin Ontong (Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Warriors), Aaron Phangiso (Highveld Lions), Rilee Rossouw (Knights), Thami Tsolekile (Highveld Lions), Stiaan van Zyl (Cape Cobras), Dane Vilas (Cape Cobras)
Fixtures:
South Africa A v Sri Lanka A (four-day series):
June 30-July 3, Kingsmead
July 7-10, Kingsmead
Sri Lanka will have a warm-up match against a Dolphins XI from June 24-26
Triangular ODI series in Zimbabwe:
July 13, South Africa A v Sri Lanka A
July 14, Zimbabwe A v Sri Lanka A
July 15, Zimbabwe A v South Africa A
July 17, South Africa A v Sri Lanka A
July 18, Zimbabwe A v South Africa A
July 19, Zimbabwe A v Sri Lanka A
July 21, Final