Raynard van Tonder will lead SA U19 in a five-match Youth ODI series against the 2016 World Cup winners, West Indies, in July.
CSA announced their 15-man squad on Wednesday, as they prepare for the series which will take place from 9 to 19 July 2017, with Durban and Pietermaritzburg hosting the matches.
The 18-year-old Van Tonder will have nine new caps to lead, including Thando Ntini, the son of former Proteas fast bowler Makhaya.
The remaining six boasts players who were part of the team that beat Sri Lanka in an ODI series in January, including experienced campaigner Wandile Makwetu, who is the most capped player in the side, having made his debut at the 2016 World Cup in Bangladesh.
Coach Lawrence Mahatlane is pleased with the team selected and believes that this series will do well to begin the team’s preparation for the 2018 U19 World Cup in New Zealand.
‘Testing ourselves against the world champions is an ideal opportunity for us as a team to see where we are with the 2018 World Cup just around the corner. It is an exciting team, with only six players having previously represented South Africa. This is a great opportunity for those selected to showcase their talent.’
CSA high performance manager, Vincent Barnes, stressed the importance of the series for the inexperienced SA side.
‘With the ICC U19 World Cup only a few months away, the West Indies series is a very important series for our team. There have been a few changes to the squad that beat Sri Lanka earlier this year and the West Indies, who are the current World Cup champions, will provide the required stiff opposition for the home side.’
South Africa will arrive in Durban on 28 June, while the West Indies will arrive on the 30th.
Coca-Cola South Africa U19 team:
Raynard van Tonder (Free State), Matthew Breetzke (Eastern Province), Curtis Campher (Gauteng), Jesse Christensen (Western Province), Gerald Coetzee (Free State), Jade de Klerk (Eastern Province), Fraser Jones (KZN Inland), Wandile Makwetu (Gauteng), Andile Mokgakane (KZN Coastal), Kgaudise Molefe (Gauteng), Jacob Miltz (Gauteng), Thando Ntini (Western Province), Jiveshan Pillay (Northerns), Herman Rolfes (Northerns), Keenan Smith (Eastern Province).
Fixtures July 2017:
| Tue | 04 | Warm Up | SA U19 XI | WI U19 XI | Varsity Oval | Durban |
| Thu | 06 | Warm Up | KZN Academy | WI U19 | Varsity Oval | Durban |
| Sun | 09 | 1st ODI | SA U19 | WI U19 | Chatsworth Oval | Durban |
| Wed | 12 | 2nd ODI | SA U19 | WI U19 | Pietermaritzburg Oval | Pietermaritzburg |
| Fri | 14 | 3rd ODI | SA U19 | WI U19 | Pietermaritzburg Oval | Pietermaritzburg |
| Sun | 16 | 4th ODI | SA U19 | WI U19 | Pietermaritzburg Oval | Pietermaritzburg |
| Wed | 19 | 5th ODI | SA U19 | WI U19 | Chatsworth Oval | Durban |
