Proteas begin T20 World Cup prep with short series against Windies
The SA side is missing a few key players who are still involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL), such as regular captain Aiden Markram, hard-hitting batter, Heinrich Klaasen, and all-rounder, Marco Jansen.
FILE: Proteas coach Rob Walters (left) oversees a training session at Sabina Park in Jamaica ahead of the first of three T20 International matches against the West Indies on 23 May 2024. Picture: @ProteasMenCSA/X
JOHANNESBURG - The Proteas are in Jamaica where they'll begin their three-match T20 series with the West Indies on Thursday night.
The SA side is missing a few key players who are still involved in the Indian Premier League (IPL), such as regular captain Aiden Markram, hard-hitting batter, Heinrich Klaasen, and all-rounder, Marco Jansen. Others like Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Kagiso Rabada and Tristan Stubbs, who were in India for that tournament, are also missing.
There are several new faces in the side, with Ottniel Baartman, Patrick Kruger, Nqaba Peter and Ryan Rickleton, who are all in line to make their debuts in the format. Stand-in skipper, Rassie van der Dussen, said the new players who will feature weren't being thrown in at the deep end as they have been involved with the team in some capacity before.
"Luckily for us, it's not a case of new players not knowing what the team dynamic is about or the team philosophy. The opportunity here is for guys like Ottniel Baartman, Ryan Rickleton and guys like that, who haven’t been here before, to get a feel of what’s going on," van der Dussen said.
The squad features four opening batters in Quinton de Kock, Matthew Breetzke, Reeza Hendricks and Rickleton, which means that some will have to play out of position.
As for Van der Dussen, he was not selected for the T20 World Cup, which will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States next month. He’s adamant that his role in the team is not to prove that his exclusion was a mistake but to help prepare those who are going to the global tournament.
"I don’t feel like I need to prove anything. It’s pretty standard, what I’m about as a cricketer. Yes, the coach has to pick a World Cup squad and only 15 players can go. He has to come up with the combination that he feels is the best and gives us the best chance and as the greater squad and the country, that is what it’s all about," said van der Dussen.
The Proteas will have a tough task playing the West Indies in their home conditions. The side has not lost a T20 series at home since August 2022.
Play begins at 10pm tonight.