• Brevis an exceptional talent – Conrad

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    Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has explained why he selected uncapped Dewald Brevis as cover for injured captain Temba Bavuma for the two-Test series in Bangladesh.

    Brevis has scored 749 runs in 12 first-class matches at an average of 37.45, with two hundreds and four fifties.

    In South Africa A’s second four-day match against Sri Lanka A in Benoni last month, the 21-year-old made 49 and 74.

    While there are batsman higher than Brevis in the Proteas’ pecking order, Conrad said on Monday that he wanted to give the former SA U19 star the experience of touring with the Test squad.

    “I thought it would be a great learning for him. Obviously people would say what has he done to deserve that, but I would rather expose him to this environment.

    “I know what he is capable of. Whether he is a generational talent … some might say yes, and others might say no … I think he is an exceptional talent.

    “New Zealand have carved up a niche for them with Glenn Phillips, an attacking player who comes in at No 7 or No 8 and bowls some off-spin,” Conrad added. “Dewald can bowl some handy leg-spin and he is one of the best players players of spin going around. He also has a power game to match.

    “[But] he is just going to Bangladesh as cover.”

    With Bavuma injured, David Bedingham is expected to move up to No 4 for the first Test at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, starting on 21 October, with Ryan Rickelton coming into the middle order.

    Proteas Test squad – Temba Bavuma (c, Lions), David Bedingham (WP), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Dewald Brevis (Titans), Tony de Zorzi (WP), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Warriors), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Dane Paterson (WP), Dane Piedt (Knights), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Kyle Verreynne (WP).

    Photo: Lee Warren/Gallo Images

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    Simon Borchardt