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Richard Levi (File)
Cape Town - The Cape Cobras will face a selection poser when Richard Levi returns from T20 international duty later this week.
Levi finishes his stint with the Proteas when they tackle New Zealand in the final T20 international on Wednesday.
There were strong calls from former players for Levi to stay in New Zealand for the ODI series after smacking 117 off 51 balls on Sunday but Cricket South Africa announced on Tuesday that Levi head will home after Wednesday's T20 international.
This puts some pressure on the Cape Cobras' two opening batmen, Andrew Puttick and Stiaan van Zyl, ahead of their T20 challenge clash against the Impi in Paarl on Wednesday. With Levi expected to be back for their clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday, one of the two openers would have to make way for Levi.
But Puttick and Van Zyl both performed well in the Cobras' first two matches in the competition. Both scored 106 runs but Van Zyl was quicker, with his tally coming off only 70 deliveries. Puttick used up 96 balls for his 106 runs.
And Cobras coach, Richard Pybus, was reluctant to say what exactly he intends to do about this new 'problem'.
"Andrew and Stiaan both worked really hard on their batting in the last while and it's pleasing to see the rewards on the field.
"Let's rather talk about the batting line-up when Richard is available again. It is in any case a very nice problem to have, because our batting depth has definitely been strengthened," Pybus told Die Burger.
The Cobras have a very thin looking middle order with JP Duminy and Justin Ontong currently with the Proteas in New Zealand. And with Justin Kemp still out injured and Herschelle Gibbs in Bangladesh, Levi's return will be a big boost.
In other T20 challenge matches on Wednesday, the Warriors take on the Lions in Port Elizabeth, while the Knights clash with the Dolphins in Bloemfontein.
Levi finishes his stint with the Proteas when they tackle New Zealand in the final T20 international on Wednesday.
There were strong calls from former players for Levi to stay in New Zealand for the ODI series after smacking 117 off 51 balls on Sunday but Cricket South Africa announced on Tuesday that Levi head will home after Wednesday's T20 international.
This puts some pressure on the Cape Cobras' two opening batmen, Andrew Puttick and Stiaan van Zyl, ahead of their T20 challenge clash against the Impi in Paarl on Wednesday. With Levi expected to be back for their clash against the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday, one of the two openers would have to make way for Levi.
But Puttick and Van Zyl both performed well in the Cobras' first two matches in the competition. Both scored 106 runs but Van Zyl was quicker, with his tally coming off only 70 deliveries. Puttick used up 96 balls for his 106 runs.
And Cobras coach, Richard Pybus, was reluctant to say what exactly he intends to do about this new 'problem'.
"Andrew and Stiaan both worked really hard on their batting in the last while and it's pleasing to see the rewards on the field.
"Let's rather talk about the batting line-up when Richard is available again. It is in any case a very nice problem to have, because our batting depth has definitely been strengthened," Pybus told Die Burger.
The Cobras have a very thin looking middle order with JP Duminy and Justin Ontong currently with the Proteas in New Zealand. And with Justin Kemp still out injured and Herschelle Gibbs in Bangladesh, Levi's return will be a big boost.
In other T20 challenge matches on Wednesday, the Warriors take on the Lions in Port Elizabeth, while the Knights clash with the Dolphins in Bloemfontein.
