The Dolphins will rest their regular captain, Morne van Wyk, for their two Momentum One-Day Cup games this week as he recovers from a wrist injury, with a view to having him fully fit for the Ram Slam T20 Challenge.
Van Wyk missed the Dolphins win over the bizhub Highveld Lions on Friday because of the complaint, and Lance Klusener confirmed that Daryn Smit will continue to deputise against the Titans at SuperSport Park.
‘Morne is not too bad, but we just feel that we want to give him the best chance for the Ram Slam T20 that is coming up,’ said Klusener.
‘We have an able replacement in Daryn Smit who can do a job for us with the gloves and in the middle order.’
The only change to the Dolphins squad for Wednesday’s televised fixture sees all-rounder Kyle Nipper released to get some game time with Kwazulu-Natal Inland, and fast bowler Calvin Savage brought in.
As they sit on top of the table with two games to go before the competition takes a break, batsman Cody Chetty believes the Dolphins have cause for optimism not only because of the results they have achieved but because of the manner in which they have played the game.
I think we’ve come along in leaps and bounds over the last three years and we’re looking to improve every game,’ said Chetty.
‘I think the brand that we play now is very exciting, which is good for the crowd and sport in general, which is entertainment based. Entertaining the crowd is a big plus for us.’
The Titans have lost the services of Dean Elgar after he was called up to the Proteas squad this week, and will wait to assess conditions – and the fitness of Theunis de Bruyn – before deciding who will replace him.
‘Grant Thomson is back from injury so he’s in the frame, we’re waiting on Theunis to see what happens with him, and then we’ll make a call on whether one of the spinners comes in,’ said coach Rob Walter.
The Titans could breathe a touch easier after their bonus point win over the Lions on Sunday lifted them off the foot of the table, and a couple of victories this week would leave them in decent shape as they attempt to defend their title.
‘It’s always nice to win and nice to do it in the way that we did, but I also felt in the first two games that, as much as it was disappointing to lose, we kind of played 80% of the game really nicely and then the key 20% was the bit that we got wrong and that hurt us quite badly,’ said Walter.
‘A large portion of that was our fielding – dropped catches seem to be contagious. But I knew that we weren’t far off, and as soon as we managed to get our energies right in the field, the results came with that.’
SQUADS
Titans: Albie Morkel (capt), Qaasim Adams, Junior Dala, Henry Davids, Theunis de Bruyn, Marchant de Lange,Heinrich Klaasen, Heino Kuhn, Grant Mokoena, Mangaliso Mosehle, Rowan Richards, Tabraiz Shamsi, Grant Thomson, Shaun von Berg.
Dolphins: Ryan McLaren (capt), Craig Alexander, Cody Chetty, Cameron Delport, Tshepang Dithole, Robbie Frylinck, Keshav Maharaj, Sibonelo Makhanya, Ayavuya Myoli, Andile Phehlukwayo, Calvin Savage, Daryn Smit, Vaughn van Jaarsveld.
