Acting director of cricket Corrie van Zyl has reiterated Cricket South Africa’s faith in a relatively inexperienced Proteas squad that has conceded Test-series defeat to India.

The Proteas lost the first Test in Visakhapatnam by 203 runs and the second in Pune by an innings and 137 runs. They are without recent Test retirees Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn, while the squad includes the inexperienced Zubayr Hamza, Heinrich Klaasen, Anrich Nortje and George Linde.

Linde and Klaasen are uncapped, while Hamza and Nortje have played just one Test each. Linde was a late addition to the squad for the injured Keshav Maharaj.

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‘We need to appreciate the quality that is in this Indian side. This is an Indian team that has been together for some time now and is well accustomed to playing in their home conditions,’ said Van Zyl.

‘I strongly believe we, as the Proteas, have the players to win games and the youngsters will come right.

‘The team are constantly trying to find ways to win. It’s not like they’re not doing a great job with it. We believe in them that they’re going to make the right decisions to do the best they can do to help us win Test matches.’

The third and final Test will start in Ranchi on Saturday.

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