Du Plessis to lead South Africa A
Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday named a squad of 24 players from which the South Africa A side will be selected for two four-day 'Test' matches against Sri Lanka A at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead and for a triangular one-day series against Zimbabwe A and Sri Lanka A in Zimbabwe.
Faf du Plessis of the Nashua Titans will captain South Africa A in both formats while there are four newcomers to South Africa A level in bizhub Highveld Lions batsman Temba Bavuma, bizhub Highveld Lions all-rounder Chris Morris and two spin bowlers, Simon Harmer of the Chevrolet Warriors and Aaron Phangiso of the bizhub Highveld Lions.
"Du Plessis has been a leader for most of his cricketing life," commented CSA selection convener Andrew Hudson, "and the fact that he has not had much opportunity to do this at franchise level is more a reflection on the fact that national players are not available for their franchises on a regular basis.
"Faf has been enormously impressive both in the Proteas' Castle Lager ODI squad and more recently in the Indian Premier League (IPL) where he has shown how much he has matured as an international cricketer.
"The four newcomers to the South Africa A side have all done very well in franchise cricket this season and it is yet another example of impressive talent coming through the system and bidding for higher honours.
"It is very exciting," added Hudson, "that we can choose such a large squad in the realisation that all of them are potential future Proteas.
"Vinnie Barnes will coach both squads and these will be finalised after a training camp under his direction in Cape Town from June 18."
South Africa A squad: Faf du Plessis (Nashua Titans, capt), Kyle Abbott (Sunfoil Dolphins), Temba Bavuma (bizhub Highveld Lions), Farhaan Behardien (Nashua Titans), Marchant de Lange (Nashua Titans), Dean Elgar (Chevrolet Knights), Quinton Friend (Chevrolet Knights), Simon Harmer (Chevrolet Warriors), Reeza Hendricks (Chevrolet Knights), Colin Ingram (Chevrolet Warriors), Rory Kleinveldt (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Heino Kuhn (Nashua Titans), Richard Levi (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Pumelela Matshikwe (bizhub Highveld Lions), Ryan McLaren (Chevrolet Knights), David Miller (Sunfoil Dolphins), Chris Morris (bizhub Highveld Lions), Justin Ontong (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Wayne Parnell (Chevrolet Warriors), Aaron Phangiso (bizhub Highveld Lions), Rilee Rossouw (Chevrolet Knights), Thami Tsolekile (bizhub Highveld Lions), Stiaan van Zyl (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras), Dane Vilas (Nashua Mobile Cape Cobras)
Fixtures
South Africa A v Sri Lanka A (four-day series)
June 30-July 3, Sahara Stadium Kingsmead
July 7-10, Sahara Stadium Kingsmead
Sri Lanka will have a warm-up match against a Sunfoil Dolphins XI from June 24-26
Triangular ODI series in Zimbabwe
July 13, South Africa A v Sri Lanka A
July 14, Zimbabwe A v Sri Lanka A
July 15, Zimbabwe A v South Africa A