Cricket South Africa have named the national men’s academy intake for the next three-year cycle.
KwaZulu-Natal duo Ruan de Swardt and Thamsanqa Khumalo, Eastern Cape pair Tristan Stubbs and Jade de Klerk and Gauteng’s Matthew van Buuren and Levert Manje are new to the squad.
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CSA national men’s academy for 2021 to 2024
- Joshua Richards (Lions)
- Bryce Parsons (Dolphins)
- Kabelo Sekhukune (Warriors)
- Grant Roelofsen (Dolphins)
- Wandile Makwetu (Knights)
- Lifa Ntanzi (Dolphins)
- Thando Ntini (Dolphins)
- Stefan Tait (Warriors)
- Dayyaan Galiem (Titans)
- Tshepo Ntuli (Lions)
- Jonathan Bird (Western Province)
- Gerald Coetzee (Knights)
- Ruan de Swardt (Dolphins)
- Mitchell van Buuren (Lions)
- Jade de Klerk (Warriors)
- Levert Manje (Lions)
- Thamsanqa Khumalo (Dolphins)
- Tristan Stubbs (Warriors)
What head coach Malibongwe Maketa said
“I am very excited to be working with this group of players. They tick every box with where we’re striving to take the game at national level,” said Maketa.
“In terms of squad balance, a key focus area is the development of black African batsmen, and we believe that we have quality black African batsmen in the squad.
“The make-up of the squad will also allow us to develop all-rounders. We have selected young all-rounders who we believe have the potential to go on and represent the Proteas.
“It’s also important that we pinpoint the gaps where we need to assist in growing them both as individuals and cricketers, so that by the time they reach the Proteas in the next two to three years, they will be ready to perform.”
More about the academy from CSA
“The academy forms an important part of the CSA high-performance pipeline as it prepares the identified players that make up the 18-man squad for the rigours of professional cricket at the highest level. The squad for the 2021-2024 cycle will represent the SA Emerging team,” added CSA.
“The academy program includes a five-week induction camp for all players once a year and specialised camps in and out of season for various cricket disciplines that are held at the CSA Centre of Excellence in Pretoria.
“In addition, individual intervention coaching, and monitoring visits are conducted at provincial level as well as two-week preparatory camps prior to any tour.”