SA U19 coach Lawrence Mahatlane believes Akhona Mnyaka and Jason Niemand’s exposure to senior cricket will benefit his team.
Mahatlane visited the duo in East London ahead of their series against England and Namibia.
Both cricketers broke into the Border senior team earlier this year, with Niemand playing a big part in their recent record chase against Western Province at Buffalo Park.
‘I think it is very positive that these guys are breaking into the senior set-up and being exposed to list-A cricket,’ Mahatlane told The Herald.
‘You watch how Jason batted against Western Province in chasing 350 and getting that 80-odd; his confidence levels are now very high, and hopefully he can carry that experience into the U19 setup.’
Mnyaka was the only schoolboy to be selected for the now-postponed Global T20 League.
‘It just shows the confidence a lot of people that have watched him play have in him,’ said Mahatlane.
‘I know that Robbie Peterson was the guy that really pushed for him and worked with him early on this year when he was consulting for us [the U19s], so again it just shows the kind of potential he has.’
