There's a new wave of South African cricketers being thrust onto the international scene.
With the Kolpak situation having raided virtually all of South Africa’s “next best” stock, namely Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw, Stiaan van Zyl, Simon Harmer, Dane Vilas, David Wiese and Colin Ingram, it has almost been a blessing in disguise for the Proteas’ selection panel.
Forced to cast their net wider than usual searching for the next generation of Proteas, they have unearthed some talented youngsters ready to showcase their ability on the highest stage.
The Proteas ODI side have already benefited from talents like Andile Phehlukwayo and Dwaine Pretorius and now the Test side look to follow a similar route.
There has been a taste of bold selections already this season when national convener Linda Zondi blooded spinners Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi in Australia before handing Knights seamer Duanne Olivier a debut in the final Test against Sri Lanka at the Wanderers.
Independent Media now understands that the latest “young guns” to benefit from this brave new selection policy is Titans wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen and Knights captain Theunis de Bruyn.
With ODI captain AB de Villiers ruling himself out of both the Test tours, to New Zealand and England, there is space for a reserve wicketkeeper and extra batsman in the travelling party.
Although Knights gloveman Rudi Second struck 684 runs at an average of 52.61 that went a long way in his franchise securing the Sunfoil Series title, and will feel unlucky should he miss out on the New Zealand tour after such a successful season, Klassen seems to have the inside lane at this stage.
He had an equally good Sunfoil Series, striking 635 runs at an average of 48.64, while his wicketkeeping has improved significantly since he started working with Mark Boucher at the Titans.
Meanwhile, De Bruyn, who has already been granted some time in the Proteas dressing room this past home summer as the “reserve batsman”, will be hoping for an opportunity over the course of the three-match series in New Zealand.
He, too, is fresh off a strong showing in the Sunfoil Series where he led the Knights to the title with 751 runs at the impressive average of 57.76. The 24-year-old has continued that form in the Momentum One-Day Cup with a glorious 132 in the opening game last week against the Cape Cobras.
Should both players be selected for the Test squad, they would do well to follow the route Pretorius took to gain success on the international stage. The 27-year-old struck his maiden ODI half-century off only 26 balls at Hagley Oval on Wednesday.
“I’ve worked my whole life to get to this stage,” a modest Pretorius said.
“It’s awesome to just contribute. I’m going to keep working hard and see what happens in the future.”
Pretorius could be rewarded with a Test call-up too following his stellar display in Christchurch, although he faces stiff competition from fellow all-rounders Wayne Parnell and Chris Morris.
Spinner Maharaj also appears to be the sole specialist slow bowler in the squad which is set to be dominated with seam bowlers due to the conditions in New Zealand.