Latest news with #ZimTests
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Wiaan Mulder: Proteas debutants can put pressure on regulars
All-rounder Wiaan Mulder said the five uncapped players in the Proteas squad for the two-Test series in Zimbabwe are eager to prove they deserve their call-up. The Proteas face Zimbabwe in two Tests in Bulawayo, starting on Saturday and July 6, with several big names missing out. According to The Citizen, Test captain Temba Bavuma is out due to the hamstring injury he picked up in the World Test Championship final victory two weeks ago, while Marco Jansen, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs have been rested. Recently injured fast bowlers Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams were not considered for selection. Lungi Ngidi will join the squad for the second Test. Five Proteas debutants? Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Lesego Senokwane, Codi Yusuf, Dewald Brevis and Prenelan Subrayen are set to make their debuts. There is also a recall for Zubayr Hamza. Mulder, who mustered scores of six and 27 and took one wicket during the Test final, described it as a 'new squad'. 'There are a lot of guys here who want to prove a point: Why they are here, how well they have played over the last couple of domestic seasons to get here,' he said. On that note, 19-year-old Pretorius has played just six first-class matches but made an immediate impact with three centuries in his first five games, including one in the CSA 4-Day Series final. He boasts an average of 65.57 in the format. Likewise, Brevis followed up a good SA20 run with a decent IPL. In the longer format, he was the second-leading run-scorer in the 4-Day Series, with 573 runs in 12 innings, including two hundreds and two fifties, averaging 47.75. Senokwane and Hamza were the fourth- and fifth-leading run scorers in the 4-Day Series. Subrayen and Yusuf were the second- and sixth-leading wicket takers. OPINION: Mind-boggling Proteas are resting players for Zim Tests Debutants to put pressure on established Proteas 'We compete at every practice, and I'm pretty sure when we get into that Test match, the guys who are going to fill the spot for… take someone like Ricks [Ryan Rickelton] or Marco [Jansen], are going to put them under pressure when they come back,' Mulder added. 'That's the exciting part about having such a talented group here in Zim.' He said the Proteas have had conversations around their identity, that whoever plays is still ''the best team at the time and we look at ourselves as world champions'. 'Everybody has that in the back of their minds. We are training like we are the best in the world, not like we are trying to become something new.'
The Citizen
7 days ago
- Sport
- The Citizen
Burger returns as Pretorius, Hermann earn maiden T20I Proteas call-ups
Big names make their return from injury as rising talents get a chance to impress in the T20I tri-series against New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Fast bowler Nandre Burger returns to the Proteas setup after an injury lay-off since October. Picture: Daniel Prentice/Gallo Images Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad included four maiden T20I call-ups in his 14-player squad for next month's tri-series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in Harare. Rassie van der Dussen will captain the side while Corbin Bosch, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Rubin Hermann and Senuran Muthusamy could make their debuts. Pretorius finished as the SA20 leading run-scorer with 397 runs at a strike rate of more than 166. Batting at number three, Hermann recorded 333 runs at a strike rate of 128.08 and an equally impressive average of 41.43. Bosch, who is already capped in One-Day Internationals (ODI) and Tests, played a key role in MI Cape Town's maiden SA20 title-winning campaign last season, taking 11 wickets in eight matches. Meanwhile, Muthusamy is one of three frontline spinners in the squad, alongside George Linde and Nqaba Peter. Big names return to Proteas Dewald Brevis makes his return to the T20I setup, having last featured in two matches against Australia in 2023. Fast bowler Nandre Burger is back in the national setup for the first time since October after recovering from a lumbar stress fracture, while Gerald Coetzee, now fully fit following a groin injury, last played for the Proteas in November. The tri-series also marks Conrad's first T20I assignment since being appointed as the senior men's all-format head coach. He said the series marks the start of their preparation for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. 'With several senior players rested as part of their workload management, it creates space for these players to step in and show what they can offer, and bring them into contention for World Cup selection,' Conrad said. 'Having three quality spin options gives us a great deal of variety, especially in conditions like Harare. Senuran has been impressive in the domestic setup and his ability to contribute with the bat adds great balance to the squad. South Africa will open the tri-series against Zimbabwe on 14 July at Harare Sports Club. Proteas squad for the tri-series Rassie van der Dussen (captain, Lions), Corbin Bosch (Titans), Dewald Brevis (Titans), Nandre Burger (Western Province), Gerald Coetzee (Titans), Reeza Hendricks (Lions), Rubin Hermann (North-West Dragons), George Linde (Western Province), Kwena Maphaka (Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Warriors), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Nqaba Peter (Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Titans) and Andile Simelane (Dolphins). OPINION: Mind-boggling Proteas are resting players for Zim Tests Fixtures Monday, 14 July – 1pm: Zimbabwe vs South Africa at Harare Sports Club Wednesday, 16 July – 1pm: South Africa vs New Zealand at Harare Sports Club Friday, 18 July – 1pm: Zimbabwe vs New Zealand at Harare Sports Club Sunday, 20 July – 1pm: Zimbabwe vs South Africa at Harare Sports Club Tuesday, 22 July – 1pm: New Zealand vs South Africa at Harare Sports Club Thursday, 24 July – 1pm: Zimbabwe vs New Zealand at Harare Sports Club Saturday, 26 July – 1pm: Number 1 vs Number 2 at Harare Sports Club
