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Mint
a day ago
- Sport
- Mint
'He is the main dog': SA coach Conrad backs teen star Kwena as frontline bowler during Zimbabwe series
Bulawayo [Zimbabwe], June 27 (ANI): South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad said that young left-arm seamer Kwena Maphaka will be the "main dog" in the bowling department for the national team in the upcoming Test series against Zimbabwe in the absence of experienced fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen. The playing eleven of the defending ICC World Test Championship (WTC) will feature three debutants, Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius and pacer Codi Yusuf. The match is the first of the Proteas' WTC 2025-27 cycle and will start from Saturday onwards. The visitors have a a new-look bowling lineup featuring Corbin Bosch, Codi Yusuf and Kwena Maphaka, other thanleft-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj. Among the three pacers, Yusuf makes his Test debut, while Bosch and Maphaka have featured in a Test before. Speaking on Maphaka, Shukri Conrad said, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo, "With Lungi not being here for the first Test, Kwena's going to lead the bowling attack. As a 19-year-old, when you get given that responsibility, it doesn't only speaks volumes for how highly you are rated, but also the calibre and the mentality that he possesses. He's a young buck that shows maturity way beyond his years." "We've obviously got to be very smart in identifying when we put him out in the shop window, and I think this would be a great time for him. In Zimbabwe, in Test cricket specifically, he is not the third quick behind KG and Marco necessarily but he is the main dog. That responsibility will grow massively," the coach added. Maphaka played his maiden game in the longest format of the game during the Test match against Pakistan earlier this year as fourth seamer along with Rabada, Jansen, and Wiaan Mulder. In that match, the 19-year-old bowled 21.2 overs across the two innings, finished with 3 for 90 Following an injury to full-time skipper Temba Bavuma, Maharaj was named as the skipper of the South Africa side for the tour. Bavuma had sustained a hamstring strain during the World Test Championship Final, but continued to bat bravely thereafter, guiding the Proteas to a historic title. Maharaj will lead a young XI into the first Test in Bulawayo, with Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke being named as the designated openers, as per the ICC. Mulder will have another go at number three, after having impressed in the second innings of the Ultimate Test, while David Bedingham finds himself promoted to number four. Debutant Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who has just seven first-class games to his name, comes in at number five, whereas Dewald Brevis, who also makes his Test debut, sits at number six. Lhuan, who had a breakout SA20 for Paarl Royals this year with 397 runs in 12 matches with three fifties, has made 485 runs in seven first-class games at an average of 60.62, with three tons and a fifty. Brevis, who scored poorly in two T20Is he played for Proteas, has been in tremendous form across all formats for a long while and had a solid stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), scoring 225 runs in six matches at an average of 37.50, with two fifties, at a strike rate of 180.00. Kyle Verreynne will keep the wickets and bat at seven. In all, just four members of the side that featured in the World Test Championship Final against Australia at Lord's will feature in this Test for the Proteas. Maharaj is also on the verge of becoming the first-ever South African spinner to achieve the landmark of 200 Test wickets, being just one scalp away from the feat. SA's Playing XI: Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj (c), Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka. (ANI)
Int'l Cricket Council
2 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Maharaj captains young South Africa XI for Zimbabwe Test
Following an injury to full-time skipper Temba Bavuma, Maharaj was named as the skipper of the South Africa side for the tour. Bavuma had sustained a hamstring strain during the World Test Championship Final, but continued to bat bravely thereafter, guiding the Proteas to a historic title. Maharaj will lead a young XI into the first Test in Bulawayo, with Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke being named as the designated openers. Wiaan Mulder will have another go at number three, after having impressed in the second innings of the Ultimate Test, while David Bedingham finds himself promoted to number four. Debutant Lhuan-dré Pretorius, who has just seven first-class games to his name, comes in at number five, whereas Dewald Brevis, who also makes his Test debut, sits at number six.
Int'l Cricket Council
3 days ago
- Sport
- Int'l Cricket Council
Four uncapped players in Proteas squad for tri-series
Rassie van der Dussen, who has 50 T20I caps, will take charge of the South Africa squad that features four uncapped players for the upcoming shortest-format outings. Corbin Bosch, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Rubin Hermann and Senuran Muthusamy have all received maiden call-ups after strong domestic performances. Pretorius was the standout performer in the 2025 edition of the SA20, finishing as the leading run-scorer with 397 runs at a strike rate of 166. South Africa squad: Rassie van der Dussen (C), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Andile Simelane Best of Rassie van der Dussen | CWC23 Wicket-keeper-batter Rubin Hermann was also impressive, scoring 333 runs at an average of 41.43. Bosch, who has already featured for the Proteas in ODIs and Tests, played a key role in MI Cape Town's title win in the SA20 earlier this year, while Muthusamy adds to South Africa's depth as a spin-bowling all-rounder. The squad also features the return of Dewald Brevis, fast bowlers Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee following their respective injury layoffs. The trio bolsters a strong bowling unit that also includes Lungi Ngidi, who was part of the ICC World Test Championship Final 2025 triumph and emerging pacer Kwena Maphaka. Head coach Shukri Conrad, who takes charge of his first T20I assignment since being appointed to the all-format role, said the series marks the beginning of South Africa's preparations for the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. South Africa beat Australia to seize the Ultimate Test | Full Match Highlights | WTC25 Final Watch the full match highlights as Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada led the way as South Africa bested the defending champions Australia to clinch the World Test Championship mace at Lord's. 'With several senior players rested as part of their workload management, it creates opportunities for others to step in and show what they can offer,' said Conrad. 'This is a chance for us to build depth and see how these players cope with international demands.' The squad will assemble in Pretoria on 9 July for a two-day preparatory camp before departing for Harare on 11 July. The tri-series begins with South Africa facing hosts Zimbabwe on 14 July. Tri-series fixtures: July 14 - Zimbabwe v South Africa July 16 - South Africa v New Zealand July 18 - Zimbabwe v New Zealand July 20 - Zimbabwe v South Africa July 22 - New Zealand v South Africa July 24 - Zimbabwe v New Zealand July 26 - Final * All games will be played at the Harare Sports Club.
NDTV
6 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
Travis Head Urges Australia To Move On From WTC Final Defeat Ahead Of West Indies Series
Australia batter Travis Head has called on his teammates to swiftly put their recent ICC World Test Championship Final loss to South Africa behind them, as they prepare to kick off a new cycle against the West Indies in Barbados. The Aussies have little time to lick their wounds following their five-wicket loss to the Proteas at Lord's in the Ultimate Test earlier this month, with their new World Test Championship campaign commencing with a three-match series against the West Indies in the Caribbean on Wednesday. Head believes a quick turnaround from the World Test Championship Final to the West Indies series is a positive for his side and has urged his teammates not to dwell on the loss to the Proteas when they take on the Caribbean side. "There's added motivation to go out there and play well," Head said of the first Test in Barbados, as quoted from the official website of the ICC. "We didn't play well (against South Africa) and it's unfortunate," he added. "We put two years of hard work into one week and didn't quite go to plan and the opposition played really well, so there's another motivation," he noted. "We've got two more years to build, and this is another first look at it so I think if you dwell on it for too long or if you look back you forget about what's moving forward," Head said. "As hard as that is, we play so much cricket and are so used to that but of course we care and of course it's not ideal but at the end of the day you can't change it so you have to move on you have to get back on the horse and you have to play good cricket," he noted. "I think a lot of guys are wanting to do that we've had a little bit of time to reflect and I've got time to prep and we're going to another Test series that we're hopeful to play well in," he added. Australia will be without the services of key batter Steve Smith for the opening Test against the West Indies, with the veteran right-hander still recovering from the finger injury he picked up while fielding during the loss in the World Test Championship Final. Former No. 1-ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne is also missing, having been dropped by the Aussies, with teenager Sam Konstas and fellow batter Josh Inglis named as their replacements for the first Test at Kensington Oval. Head expects Labuschagne to work his way back into the Test setup quickly and is also predicting Inglis to thrive when filling in for the injured Smith. Inglis scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka at the start of the year, and Head believes the 30-year-old is capable of performing well once more. "It feels like he's played a lot more than he has for Australia as he has been in the squad for a long time and he has been around the group for a long time," Head noted. "Once he gets his extended stay on the team I think he will excel," he added. "He's been waiting for a good amount of time to get a crack and it's exciting for Josh," Head said.
United News of India
6 days ago
- Sport
- United News of India
Need to move on quickly from WTC final loss: Travis Head
Canberra, Jun 23 (UNI) Travis Head doesn't want Australia to dwell on their loss to South Africa as they get set to commence their new World Test Championship campaign. Australia batter Travis Head wants his team to move on quickly from their recent loss to South Africa in the ICC World Test Championship Final as the side gets set to commence the new cycle against the West Indies in Barbados. The Aussies have little time to lick their wounds following their five-wicket loss to the Proteas at Lord's in the Ultimate Test earlier this month, with their new World Test Championship campaign commencing with a three-match series against the West Indies in the Caribbean commencing on Wednesday. Head believes the quick turnaround from the World Test Championship Final to the West Indies series is a positive for his side and has urged his teammates not to dwell on the loss to the Proteas when they take on the Caribbean side. "There's added motivation to go out there and play well," Head said of the first Test in Barbados. "We didn't play well (against South Africa) and it's unfortunate. "We put two years of hard work into one week and didn't quite go to plan and the opposition played really well, so there's another motivation. "We've got two more years to build, and this is another first look at it so I think if you dwell on it for too long or if you look back you forget about what's moving forward. "As hard as that is, we play so much cricket and are so used to that but of course we care and of course it's not ideal but at the end of the day you can't change it so you have to move on you have to get back on the horse and you have to play good cricket. "I think a lot of guys are wanting to do that we've had a little bit of time to reflect and I've got time to prep and we're going to another Test series that we're hopeful to play well in." Australia will be without the services of key batter Steve Smith for the opening Test against the West Indies, with the veteran right-hander still recovering from the finger injury he picked up while fielding during the loss in the World Test Championship Final. Former No.1 ranked Test batter Marnus Labuschagne is also missing having been dropped by the Aussies, with teenager Sam Konstas and fellow batter Josh Inglis named as their replacements for the first Test at Kensington Oval. Head expects Labuschagne to work his way back into the Test setup quickly and is also predicting Inglis to thrive when filling in for the injured Smith. Inglis scored a century on debut against Sri Lanka at the start of the year and Head believes the 30-year-old is capable of performing well once more. "It feels like he's played a lot more than he has for Australia as he has been in the squad for a long time and he has been around the group for a long time," Head noted. "Once he gets his extended stay on the team I think he will excel. "He's been waiting for a good amount of time to get a crack and it's exciting for Josh." UNI RKM
