The Proteas head to India in June for a five-match T20 International series that gives them the chance to prove South Africa are a force in the format.
Chief Selector Victor Mpitsang has branded the squad, the strongest Proteas unit fielded for some time.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating though, and the Proteas will be out to best a team that want to win absolutely every match they play, so it will take some doing to get positive results in India.
Nine members of the squad have been in action in the IPL, including uncapped 21-year-old wicketkeeper batter Tristan Stubbs.
Also in action in the franchise T20 spectacular were Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rassie van der Dussen and Marco Jansen.
Mpitsang also revealed that Anrich Nortje is finally fit again and raring to go which will add another dimension to the excellent Proteas bowling attack.
Warriors ➡️ SA 'A' ➡️IPL ➡️#Proteas T20I squad
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) May 17, 2022
Tristan Stubbs 🚀#BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/uYrEuCY8yg
“This is the Proteas like we have not seen them in a long time,” commented Mpitsang.
“The injection of the IPL players means that we will have a team that’s ready to fire on all cylinders immediately and has vast experience of the conditions that we will be playing in.
“Tristan Stubbs is an exciting prospect and we’re keen to see what he’s made of and we are looking forward to the return of the experience of Reeza (Hendricks), Klaasie (Heinrich Klaasen) and Wayne Parnell to join the likes of Temba (Bavuma), Tabraiz (Shamsi) and Keshav (Maharaj).
“The country can also join us in a collective sigh of relief at the return of Anrich Nortje, who has been working hard to recover from a frustrating injury. The National Selection Panel and I are really excited to watch our full strength Proteas take on the world’s number one T20 team.”
South Africa are ranked fourth in the world in T20 cricket but have been in good nick in the format for the last year or so with their strengths being powerplay batting and an aggressive bowling attack.
The India series will show whether the Proteas can sustain top-level T20 cricket for five consecutive matches. This is key because the T20 World Cup requires just that if teams want to make it to the knockout stage.
India host the Proteas in the first of the five T20Is in Delhi on 9 June with visits to Cuttack, Vizag and Rajkot following before the series concludes in Bangalore.
