Head coach Malibongwe Maketa is looking forward to the arrival of several Test cricket resources, ahead of South Africa A’s first-class series against India A.
The tourists suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat to India A in the limited-overs series. Batsmen Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn, Zubayr Hamza, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Piedt and Senuran Muthusamy, who have been named in the Proteas squad for the next month’s three Tests against India, will first represent South Africa A in two four-day fixtures.
‘Looking ahead to the four-day series, it is a totally different team. There’s experience, there’s guys that have had a taste of India,’ said Maketa.
‘For me that’s quite encouraging that we’ve got a lot of guys who are preparing to play against the main team, join the Proteas. And from that alone, with the experience, I foresee us really putting up good performances and doing really well.’
While South Africa A were almost whitewashed in a limited-overs series heavily affected by rain, the form of batsmen Heinrich Klaasen and Reeza Hendricks, fast bowler Anrich Nortje and spinners George Linde and Bjorn Fortuin was satisfactory.
Hendricks scored 239 runs for an average of 59.75 across five innings. Klaasen was next with 168 at 42. Nortje took the most wickets – seven in four fixtures. Hendricks and Linde claimed five each.
‘After the disappointment of the one-day series, we look forward to the four-dayers. I must state, though, that we weren’t too disappointed with the way we played in the one-day series,’ added Maketa.
‘It was unfortunate that they turned out to be T20 games due to all the rain. On our preparation, we brought a team that was set up to play 50-over innings.
‘We take a lot of positives that the guys went out and looked to play positively and play situations. There were a lot of good things that came out from there.’
First-class squad: Aiden Markram (captain), Theunis de Bruyn, Zubayr Hamza, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Pieter Malan, Ed Moore, Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Dane Piedt, Wiaan Mulder, Heinrich Klaasen, Lutho Sipamla, Khaya Zondo.
Photo: Gallo Images
