The SA U19s have completed a four-day camp at the CSA Centre of Excellence ahead of their tour to Sri Lanka from 23 June.

The tour includes a three-match, three-day Youth Test series as well as a three-match Youth One-Day International (ODI) series.

Coach Lawrence Mahatlane is excited to take a fresh group of players on tour, where all will be playing in their first Test matches.

‘It’s an exciting new crop of players,’ he said. ‘It’s also a new cycle and a fresh start for the U19 program. Our objectives in Sri Lanka are obviously to win games of cricket, but it’s also important to give the players a proper introduction into the longer format of the game.

‘We have some really good players who are itching to prove themselves. Many are experienced campaigners for a spot in the team and are keen to show selectors and the nation that they have got what it takes.’

Wiaan Mulder is one of only two players (Wandile Makwetu is the other) remaining from the unsuccessful ICC U19 World Cup team and will captain the side on his maiden tour to Sri Lanka. He is looking forward to this new chapter.

‘It’s an exciting time for us as a team because apart from myself and Wandi, everyone else is new,’ Mulder commented. ‘The guys have gelled really well in this last camp, we’ve gotten to know each other and what makes each player tick and there’s a lot of excitement going to Sri Lanka.

‘I’m really excited to firstly captain the side and then to play in my very first Test match. These are the building blocks to creating a winning team and to making us the best SA U19 outfit that we can possibly be. I hope I can lead the team by example and just make South Africa proud.’

SA U19 Team: Wiaan Mulder (capt, Gauteng), Eathan Bosch (KZN Inland), Jerome Bossr (KZN), Jesse Christensen (Western Province), Jade de Klerk (Eastern Province), Wandile Makwetu (Gauteng), Akhona Mnyaka (Border), Daniel Moriarty (Western Province), Vezokuhle Mtungwa (Boland), William Sendin (Boland), Kenan Smith (Eastern Province), Siphamandla Krweqe (Border), *Jashua van Heerden (Northerns), Raynard van Tonder (Free State), Ricardo Vasconceles (Boland), *Mitchell van Buuren (Gauteng).

*Van Buuren replaces van Heerden for the ODI series.

Management: Lawrence Mahatlane (Head Coach), Chris van Noordwyk (Assistant Coach), Riaan Osman (Team Manager), Kyle Southgate (Video Analyst), Molebatsi Theletsane (Physiotherapist).