The Proteas’ squad for next month’s Test series in New Zealand has been announced.
The squad is without several first-choice players, who are contracted to the SA20, which coincides with this tour of New Zealand.
The 14-man squad features seven players who have not been capped in Test cricket, including captain Neil Brand.
Brand captained South Africa A earlier this year – and has been included in the Test squad alongside Boland pair Shaun von Berg and Clyde Fortuin, North West duo Raynard van Tonder and Ruan de Swardt, Western Province’s Mihlali Mpongwana and the Lions’ Tshepo Moreki.
Proteas’ squad for Test series in New Zealand
- Neil Brand (captain, Titans)
- David Bedingham (Western Province)
- Ruan de Swardt (North West)
- Clyde Fortuin (Boland)
- Zubayr Hamza (Lions)
- Tshepo Moreki (Lions)
- Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province)
- Duanne Olivier (Lions)
- Dane Paterson (Western Province)
- Keegan Petersen (Boland)
- Dane Piedt (Knights)
- Raynard van Tonder (North West)
- Shaun von Berg (Boland)
- Khaya Zondo (Dolphins)
“Firstly, I would like to congratulate the players that will be going on a Proteas tour for the first time. It is a real honour to represent your country, so they should savour the moment,” said Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad.
“The players picked for this tour have every chance of challenging New Zealand and we have full confidence they will do exactly that when we arrive for the first Test match at Mount Maunganui.
“Most of these guys participated in the recent A series against West Indies where they showed that they have what it takes against players of international calibre. That experience will no doubt leave them in a better position for what we expect to be a testing series in New Zealand.”