A mix of youth and experience in South Africa A squad for tour of Sri Lanka

A handful of international players and some of the nation’s best young prospects will turn out against Sri Lanka A in an away tour in June after being included in the South Africa A squad named by Cricket SA on Tuesday.

The team will be captained by Tony de Zorzi, who recently made his Test and ODI debuts against West Indies, and he will have some experienced players to back him up including Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne, Gerald Coetzee and Tristan Stubbs, who have all competed at international level.

Hamza returns

The tour also marks the return of batter Zubayr Hamza to the national setup after he was suspended last year due to an anti-doping rule violation.  

In addition, giving some younger players opportunities, the squad includes 19-year-old former junior star Dewald Brevis and 21-year-old prospect Jordan Hermann, among others.

Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad, who will mentor the side, said all the players in the squad would have a chance to showcase their ability and potentially secure places in the SA team for the Test series against India later this year.

“The squad reflects the next crop of players that are emerging from our pipeline. We also rewarded those who have performed for their respective domestic teams this past summer,” Conrad said after the 15-man squad was announced.

“The tour will provide the opportunity for those players, together with the younger Proteas, to put their skills to the test in highly competitive international conditions. It will also serve to strengthen the batting depth in the red-ball department.”

ALSO READ: Can Markram magic lead Proteas to World Cup glory?

Cricket South Africa director of cricket Enoch Nkwe said the tour would be crucial in keeping the country’s emerging players on the field during the domestic off-season.

“On behalf of Cricket South Africa, I would like to thank Sri Lanka Cricket for hosting Shukri and his team for what we consider to be much needed game time during our winter months,” he said.

“The tour is also seen as a stepping stone in our overall strategy to increase the depth of players within our pipeline.”  

The South Africa A team’s tour to Sri Lanka will include three one-day games and two four-day matches.

South Africa A squad

Tony de Zorzi (captain), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Gerald Coetzee, Zubayr Hamza, Jordan Hermann , Tshepo Moreki, Senuran Muthusamy, Keegan Petersen, Sinethemba Qeshile, Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams

Tour schedule

One-day matches

4 June – Sri Lanka A v South Africa A, Kandy  
6 June – Sri Lanka A v South Africa A, Kandy  
8 June – Sri Lanka A v South Africa A, Kandy  

Four-day matches

12-15 June – Sri Lanka A v South Africa A, Dambulla  
19-22 June – Sri Lanka A v South Africa A in Dambulla