As the winter takes over locally, Cricket South Africa announced their SA 'A' squad to tour the West Indies which includes five Hollywoodbets Dolphins players and one coach as they head off for the Caribbean.
Dolphins batter Marques Ackerman has been selected to captain the team in both the unofficial test matches and the 50 Over Series while Prenelan Subrayen, Tristan Luus, Okuhle Cele and Jason Smith are all included along with Dolphins head coach Quinton Friend who is the bowling coach.
Having been announced as the captain for the squad, Marques Ackerman is excited by the prospect of leading a national side on an overseas tour.
“It’s a great privilege to be selected in an SA ‘A’ team and to be selected as the captain is another huge honour for me,” Ackerman said. “To be able to lead a great bunch of really talented players is also really exciting and I am looking forward to the challenge coming up.”
The extensive Dolphins contingent in the squad is encouraging for the team at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium and Ackerman feels that their strong representation is a testament to the work being done in Durban.
“To have six members of the Dolphins playing unit and coaching staff involved in the SA ‘A’ tour just shows the great work that has been done at the Dolphins and it’s encouraging that guys are being recognised for their efforts.”
Heading to the Caribbean will be a tour that might not be too familiar with a number of the players, but Ackerman says it’s important to embrace the challenge and the experience.
“The West Indies is an incredible place to go to and to be representing your country is an equally exciting prospect for me and for the squad.
“It’s also an important step in many of the players’ careers and hopefully it can be an exciting and successful trip for us,” Ackerman added.
Young Dolphins seamer Tristan Luus has been included in the squad off the back of a stand-out first-class debut recently where he picked up a five-for in his first innings of professional red ball cricket.
Experienced Prenelan Subrayen, Jason Smith and Okuhle Cele will also form important parts of the squad with both Cele and Smith having recently made their Proteas debuts.
The SA ‘A’ squad will face their West Indies counterparts in both a 50 Over and two 4-Day matches with the first 50 over match taking place at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Saint Lucia on 21 May.
