Coach Shukri Conrad explained wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne’s absence from the South Africa A XI for this week’s four-day fixture against Sri Lanka A.
Verreynne and fellow Test cricketer Zubayr Hamza were omitted from an XI that was bowled out for 131 and 185 in a 160-run defeat in Hambantota.
“Kyle is off sick. I had earmarked him to play both four-day games, because it would have been a wonderful opportunity to make a play to get back in the Test side,” Conrad told IOL.
South Africa A were without batsman Tristan Stubbs on Thursday, when Sri Lanka A completed victory inside three days despite spinner Senuran Muthusamy’s 12-wicket haul.
“Stubbs also got sick yesterday, so was unable to come to the ground. But that’s what touring the sub-continent is all about. It’s character building and guys really toughing it out,” added Conrad.
“Senuran bowled splendidly in the second innings. Truth be told, he wasn’t that good in the first innings, but then the work the seamers did in the second innings allowed him to bowl the way he did.
“He obviously took a lot of learnings from the way their spinners bowled on a wicket that took a bit of turn. It was great to see how quickly he learnt and took on the mantle of being the frontline spinner. It is obviously critical for his development.”
South Africa A and Sri Lanka A will meet for a second and final four-day fixture in Hambantota next week. South Africa A won the preceding limited-overs series.
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