South Africa A spinner Schalk Engelbrecht ‘can’t just become a one-trick pony’

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Schalk Engelbrecht TitansSchalk Engelbrecht.

Posted By: Editorial April 30, 2025

The Titans‘ Schalk Engelbrecht is among four spinners named in South Africa A’s squad for next month’s tour of the West Indies.

Engelbrecht has been selected alongside Lions spinners Bjorn Fortuin and Nqaba Peter – and the Dolphins’ Prenelan Subreyan.

Engelbrecht debuted for the Titans in 2024 and has since played for South Africa Emerging.

“Engelbrecht has come through the under-19 structures,” Cricket South Africa bowling lead Paul Adams told Independent Media.

“He also came into the SA Emerging space. He spent quite a bit of time with me talking, thinking of his game and how he needs to go about it.

“For me, it’s all about how I develop these young spinners so they can bridge the gap going up as he forms part of one of those younger groups who are 22, 23 years old.

“I find those spinners are getting very limited opportunities to play because if you look around the country, the majority of the spinners are quite experienced. And we’re going to run through a skills gap when those players stop playing or whatever, we’re going to have spinners who haven’t even had the opportunity to play long-format games.

“Schalk is a tall off-spinner. And he can bat a bit. So, he is a good package. He’s developing all the time. He’s got those variations. But for me, it’s understanding what he needs to do first before he bowls those carrom balls and doosras. He’s had this now for a couple of years. But look, it takes time.

“So, I’ve already planted the fact that you have these deliveries because you can’t just become a one-trick pony, especially when it comes to shorter formats of the game.”

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Adams was Peter’s head coach at Border several years ago. Peter has since exited division two cricket for the Lions in division one – and has played two ODIs and eight T20Is for the Proteas.

“Obviously, Peter came through my hands in East London when I was at Border, but I haven’t spent much time with him since he moved to the Lions,” added Adams.

“He’s been at the international stage, having jumped to Proteas level. He hasn’t really had much time at the high performance centre with a short stint at the national academy. So, he’s certainly one that’s on the radar that I need to try and spend a lot more time with. We have to develop leg-spinners.”

West Indies A and South Africa A will contest five limited-overs and two four-day fixtures at the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in St Lucia from 21 May to 11 June 2025.

South Africa A squad for West Indies tour

  1. Marques Ackerman (captain, Dolphins)
  2. Okuhle Cele (Dolphins)
  3. Ruan de Swardt (North West)
  4. Schalk Engelbrecht (Titans)
  5. Bjorn Fortuin (Lions)
  6. Jordan Hermann (Warriors)
  7. Tristan Luus (Dolphins)
  8. Rivaldo Moonsamy (Titans)
  9. Tshepo Moreki (Lions)
  10. Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province)
  11. Nqaba Peter (Lions)
  12. Lhuan-dre Pretorius (Titans)
  13. Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors)
  14. Lesego Senokwane (Knights)
  15. Jason Smith (Dolphins)
  16. Prenelan Subrayen (Dolphins)

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