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IOL News
5 days ago
- Sport
- IOL News
Conrad makes tough calls as he reveals white ball plans ahead of Australia tour
SELECTION HEADACHE: Shukri Conrad PROTEAS coach Shukri Conrad has revealed his hand with white ball squad selection. | BackpagePix Image: Backpagepix UPON Shukri Conrad's appointment as the Proteas all-format coach earlier this year, the whole country was curious to learn of his plans for the future of the team in terms of the personnel that would make up his squads. That curiosity was prolonged for a short while in the ongoing tour to Zimbabwe as the big dogs including Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada were rested following the WTC final at Lord's last month. However, with the star players now back in contention for selection for next month's white ball tour to Australia, Conrad finally revealed his hand as he announced the T20I and ODI squads for the tour which will see South Africa play three T20Is and three ODIs. With one eye on the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, Conrad made a number of changes to the team that played under former coach Rob Walter, the notable changes being that of the introduction of the youngsters Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis in the full strength teams. With Pretorius and Brevis having had an impressive SA20 and across all formats domestically, Conrad felt the youngsters were ahead of a number of batters in the pecking order. As a result, Reeza Hendricks lost his place in the T20I squad while David Miller was allowed to fulfil his commitments in The Hundred, further creating space for the youngsters. Next Stay Close ✕ Heinrich Klaasen's recent retirement also opened up a spot in both formats while Tabraiz Shamsi missed out as he has yet to have talks with Conrad with regard to his future in the national set-up. Moreover, experienced batter Rassie van der Dussen makes his return to the T20I team, while Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch and Prenelan Subrayen get their first inclusion in the full-strength T20I team. Despite the changes, Conrad emphasised that he is not moving on from the likes of Hendricks and Gerald Coetzee, who also missed out on the tour. "I think the players have flown past Reeza. It's no secret that Markham and Ryan Rickleton are my preferred opening batters. It makes it difficult for Reeza to fit in," Conrad told the media on Thursday. "Guys that potentially could open the batting and bat in the middle, Rassie and Lhuan-dre, give you that cover as well if you need an opening bat. I feel that they are the guys who give us better options. It's unfortunate that it's fallen this way on Reeza," "Shamo and I never really had the opportunity to chat, which is unfortunate. I think the selections speak for themselves in terms of who is ahead of whom in the pecking order. "And if you look at the T20 squads, if you look at the spinners selected, that should give you a good idea of who the frontrunners are. It doesn't mean that we're going to rule anyone out. "Gerald was the other one. There are only so many quicks you can put in your team. There are only so many bowlers in terms of balance. The players that were selected, I believe, are ahead of Gerald in the pecking order. It's not the end of the road for him. "I think you cannot ignore what Corbin Bosch has done over the last couple of months. He's banged the door down. We've still got a few months to go, and there'll be opportunities going forward where Gerald will be able to stake a claim." Proteas Men's head coach Shukri Conrad has today announced full-strength squads for the upcoming white-ball tour against Australia, scheduled to take place next month. Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma return to lead the Proteas in the three-match T20 International (T20I) series… — Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) July 24, 2025 While Van der Dussen makes his return to the Proteas full-strength team, he is not included in the ODI squad for the tour to Australia despite having been a top performer in the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year. Thus, Conrad's decision to leave him out came as a surprise to many. However, Conrad explained that the 36-year-old is not being overlooked and that he believes there is enough time to give the youngsters opportunities, as there are still two years left until the next ODI World Cup. "The immediate focus is the T20 World Cup. Rassie is very much in contention for the T20 World Cup; he gives you the option of either batting at the top or batting at three. He's great in a leadership position," said Conrad. "With the 50-over format, because I've got a bit more time, I'm certainly not going to rule Rassie or any of the older guys out. But because we've got time until 2027, it gives me a chance to blood some of the younger players and then see how they develop. And then post the T20 World Cup, we'll probably be in a better position to decide on guys like Rassie and David." Proteas T20I squad against Australia Aiden Markram (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Lind, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen and Rassie van der Dussen. Proteas ODI squad against Australia Temba Bavuma (Captain), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Prenelan Subrayen. Fixtures 1st T20I - Sunday, 10 August (N) Australia vs South Africa – Marrara Stadium, Darwin 2nd T20I - Tuesday, 12 August (N)Australia vs South Africa - Marrara Stadium, Darwin 3rd T20I - Saturday, 16 August (N) Australia vs South Africa, Cazalys Stadium, Cairns 1st ODI - Tuesday, 19 August (D/N) Australia vs South Africa – Cazalys Stadium, Cairns 2nd ODI - Friday, 22 August (D/N) Australia vs South Africa - Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay 3rd ODI - Sunday, 24 August (D/N) Australia vs South Africa - Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
COMMENT: It's nothing new, they've done it before
PROTEAS celebrate the wicket of Australia's Marnus Labuschagne on day two of the ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's. | BackpagePix MANY may look at South Africa's batting performance at Lord's on Friday and be surprised, and some may even be shocked that this batting unit, one that is heavily criticised, has been able to get the team within 69 runs of the country's first world title. However, for those who pay close attention to detail, they will be able to remember that this unit has done this before in the recent past. When India toured South Africa four years ago, after thumping the Proteas by 113 runs during the Boxing Day Test in Centurion, where they bowled the Proteas out for under 200 runs in both innings, the Proteas bounced back in style to win the series 2-1. It all started at the Bullring where Dean Elgar and Temba Bavuma chased down 240 runs to level the series and concluded at the picturesque Newlands in Cape Town where Keegan Petersen and Rassie van der Dussen helped South Africa chase down another 200 plus target to seal the 2-1 series victory over a team that was ranked number in Tests at the time. Elgar, Petersen and Van der Dussen might not be a part of this group at Lord's; however, it was still a Proteas batting unit that was labelled as 'inexperienced' and as the 'weak links' in a team that had a bowling unit filled with superstars, including Kagiso Rabada. Despite all the labels, the side was able to clinch a series victory, a victory that forced world cricket to sit up and take note of the Proteas test side.
IOL News
11-06-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Kagiso Rabada shines as Proteas face tough challenge in WTC Final
PROTEAS celebrate Kagiso Rabada after the wicket of Australia's captain Pat Cummins, unseen, for one run during day one of the ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's. | AFP Zaahier Adams at Lord's LONDON: Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen were at the crease when the Proteas unchoked at Centurion in December last year to qualify for a first-ever ICC World Test Championship final. Two big fast fast bowlers embraced passionately in the middle of the wicket after Jansen delightfully steered the winning runs past point. Jansen hauled out the big bear hug on Rabada again at Lord's on a pulsating opening day of the WTC Final on Wednesday. Only this time it was to celebrate Rabada's five-wicket haul and second at The Home of Cricket. But much has happened in between these two fateful days. Rabada, of course, tested positive for a banned substance and was instructed to appear before his comrades to apologise for his actions. It would be fair to say that the redemption is complete now. Coach Shukri Conrad stated at the time: 'All I'm interested in now is KG producing performances that we know he's capable of." Rabada certainly repaid Conrad's trust with a five-star performance that sent Australia cartling for 212. Bristling in from the Nursery End, coupling aggression with accuracy, it made for utterly compelling viewing. And aided by some fabulous catching behind the wicket Rabada finished with 5/51 - etching his name onto the Lord's Honours Board yet again. Jansen (3/49) played his supporting role to perfection, and so did the spin of Keshav Maharaj (1/19) and Aiden Markram that maintained the pressure on the Aussies despite a mid-afternoon fightback from Steve Smith (66) and Beau Webster (72). The only drawback for the Proteas being the indifferent form of surprise selection Lungi Ngidi, who looked every bit the rusty bowler that has only played two Tests in this two-year WTC cycle leading up to the showpiece. But the large South African contingent in the stands were in full voice with chants of 'Ole, Ole, Ole' ringing through St John's Wood. Rarely though are Tests won and lost shortly after tea on the first day. The Proteas' litmus test was always going to be with willow in hand and how their inexperienced batting unit would counter the relentless pressure exerted by the most experienced bowling attack in the world. Mitchell Starc provided the answer before the conclusion of the first over when he forced Aiden Markram to play with an angled bat to a 145km/h length delivery that caught the inside edge and rifled into leg stump. From thereon it was a sustained, aggressive examination with the Proteas top-order digging themselves deeper and deeper into a hole. Ryan Rickelton managed a couple of straight and square drives, but after he pushed at an away-swinger from Starc that took the edge to Usman Khawaja in the slip cordon, the Proteas innings came to a screeching halt. Wiaan Mulder simply never looked comfortable in the critical No 3 role with the allrounder and captain Temba Bavuma adding just eight runs in 72 balls for the third wicket. Mulder's torturous innings eventually came to a merciful close when Pat Cummins went straight through his attempted defence, which was the same fate that befell Tristan Stubbs when Josh Hazlewood rattled his timber to leave the Proteas in the precarious position of 30/4. At the other end captain Temba Bavuma looked considerably less fluent requiring 31 balls to get off the mark. Bavuma will resume with David Bedingham, who struck two boundaries before the close. Jansen and Rabada had started the day starring with the ball. By time the shadows lengthened over Father Time overlooking the famous old ground, and with the Proteas' top-order crumbling like the tea time cake, the pair may yet be required to do another job with the bat when the second day resumes on Thursday. World Test Championship Final, Lord's Stumps, Day 1 Australia: 212 (Webster 72, Smith 66, Rabada 5/51, Jansen 3/39) South Africa: 43/4 (Rickelton 16, Bedingham 8*, Bavuma 3*, Starc 2/10) South Africa trail by 169 runs
IOL News
31-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Proteas banking on 'human element' ahead of WTC final at Lords
PROTEAS top order batter Tristaan Stubbs will be looking to exploit the Australians' human insecurities when they face off in the World Test Championship in London. | Itumeleng English/Independent Newspapers However, that is not the mood in the Proteas Test camp, as top-order batter Tristan Stubbs revealed. The Proteas batting unit has been diagnosed as the weak link due to the lack of experience in Test match cricket, and also due to the unit not having played against a potent bowling attack this World Test Championship cycle. Throughout the build-up, the Proteas' weaknesses have been thoroughly discussed, and very little has been said about the Australian Test team and their disadvantages. THE Proteas Test team landed in the United Kingdom over the weekend, and the full squad will start their first preparations as a group for the upcoming World Test Championship final at Lord's staring on June 11. The 24-year-old emphasised that the Australians, despite being the defending champions and their vast experience of high-pressure games, are also human and they would be nervous just as much going into Lord's. Having played with Australian opening bowler Mitchell Starc at the Delhi Capitals in the Indian Premier League over the past two months, Stubbs' claim is warranted. "I played with him (Starc). The biggest thing is they're also human. They have the same thoughts we have, which you sometimes forget because they've won these big games. They're also a bit nervous. Don't use that as a headline," chuckled Stubbs. "They're just as scared as we are. They have the same fears, so that bodes well. They also have insecurities." Right from the start of his career, coach Shukri Conrad was clear about the role that he wanted Stubbs to play in the Test team. The coach wanted Stubbs to bat at three. However, the 24-year-old has found himself batting at different positions in the order in the ongoing World Test Championship cycle for a host of different reasons. Many thought that the youngster would be deterred by the varying batting positions and perhaps lack an understanding of his role in the team. However, Stubbs told the media that he is not deterred. "My whole career, every team I play for, I have a different role, so it's nothing new. One day I'm batting at three, another day I'm batting at six. I don't mind it," said Stubbs. "It helps the team, wherever they need, I can mould my game to that role. Once you've batted at three, you face the harder stuff with the new ball. It's pretty much like batting later in a one-day game. The situation tells you that it might be flat, and you might be able to score a bit quicker. "It might be overcast, you might have to come in and dig in. It's more of your game plan's role, the situation way up top. You know, okay, I'm going to come in, new ball, it's going to move around." Having not played much red ball cricket this year, Stubbs and the rest of the batting unit will have a much-needed time in the middle next week as they are set to play against Zimbabwe in a once-off Four-Day warm-up match.
