OPINION: Youngsters to the fore in CSA 4-Day competition

The local cricketing season is set to come to its conclusion this weekend, when the Lions and Titans battle it out in another classic Jukskei derby in the final of the CSA 4-Day series, which gets under way on Thursday and will conclude on Sunday if it goes the distance.

Over this season’s four-day campaign a number of youngsters have put up their hands, which is extremely exciting for South African cricket and bodes well for the future, especially if these players can continue their fantastic form and make the step up to Test cricket with the Proteas.

Arguably the most pleasing sight has been young Titans allrounder Dewald Brevis seeming to come of age, with him producing superb performances in the T20 Challenge, One Day Cup, SA20 and also the 4-Day series.

Brevis, at 21 years old now, seems primed to make a successful step up to Proteas cricket, after his first international foray didn’t exactly go to plan, with him having made just two T20I appearances in 2023.

He is currently ranked fourth on the 4-Day series run scoring charts, with 547 runs in 10 innings, having slammed two centuries and two fifties, at an average of 54.70, and he will hope to add to that in this week’s final.

Thriving youngster

Another youngster thriving in all formats is 19-year-old Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who has carried his form from last year’s U19 World Cup, into his first senior season with the Titans and he has shone.

He made his first class debut in December with a century against the Warriors, followed that up with a second century in his second game against Western Province, and after five innings has 292 runs at an average of 58.40, with two hundreds and a half century.

Topping the four day run scoring charts is 24-year-old Warriors batter Jordan Hermann, with 602 runs, at an average of 43, a highest score of 152 and one century and four fifties to his name.

Other young batters to have impressed include 20-year-old Dolphins allrounder Romashan Pillay, who has struck four half centuries, and 21-year-old Warriors allrounder JP King who in just two games has hit a fifty and a stunning 143 this past weekend.

On the bowling front the youngsters haven’t impressed as much as the batsmen, but Titans 22-year-old bowler Matthew Boast has arguably been the pick of the lot, having picked up 14 wickets in four games at an average of 23.85, while he is also a handy lower order slugger.

He is followed by 24-year-old Western Province allrounder Mihlali Mpongwana with 13 wickets at an average of 20, and having made his Proteas debut in February this year he will hope to stay on their radar.

Warriors 20-year-old CJ King, 14 wickets in three games including a five wicket haul, and Dolphins 19-year-old Tristan Luus, six wickets in his only match, impressed as well with the limited opportunities.