It’s all about preparing for the World Cup next year, even in the T20 format, when the Proteas face Zimbabwe in the second T20 international at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom tonight (6pm start).
The South Africans were given a scare before winning by 34 runs at Buffalo Park in East London on Tuesday.
Here are two Proteas to look out for tonight…
Quinton de Kock
The Proteas superstar has had a ball of a time off the field in recent months. He captained the team in the last two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka in August.
They lost by three runs on the Duckworth-Lewis Method in Pallekele, and by a mammoth 178 runs in Colombo, where Akila Dananjaya took six wickets and ran through the Proteas batting line-up. De Kock was the lone hand on the day, scoring a defiant 54.
Since then, he’s done some fishing, holidayed in Mauritius and just took it easy, as he was rested for the three ODIs against Zimbabwe.
He was also not allowed to fulfil a short county stint in England with Nottinghamshire by Cricket South Africa – probably with a view to the long season ahead that ends in the World Cup in July.
De Kock missed out in the first T20 in East London on Tuesday, mistiming a pull shot and getting a top-edge to square leg for five.
Expect the left-hander to stamp his authority today and set up the Proteas for a big score on what is usually a good batting pitch in Potch.
Tabraiz Shamsi
The left-arm wrist-spinner was a breath of fresh air when he came on to the international scene, and he has proven that he is no flash-in-the-pan with consistent performances for the Proteas and various T20 franchises.
But he has found it difficult against Zimbabwe, of all teams, going for 72 runs in 10 overs in Paarl and 43 in four overs in East London.
With Imran Tahir rested for the last two T20 games, let’s see if Shamsi can ‘grip it and rip it’ again…
Amstelhof Primary School @KFCSA Mini-Cricketers had an awesome afternoon as they chatted and sat with their Protea Heroes in their lockeroom! #KFCMiniCricket🏏🏏🏏 pic.twitter.com/9CoGui1Szl
— Playmakers (@PlaymakersZA) October 11, 2018
@ashfakmohamed