There was no sugar-coating the omissions when Proteas coach Shukri Conrad named his squad for the white-ball tour of Australia next month. Too often, coaches employ euphemisms in discussing selection matters with the media for fear of treading on toes or hurting feelings. Conrad doesn’t roll that way.
He’s a straight shooter, which is rather refreshing compared to the long-winded, padded reasons some provide when Johnny So-and-so has been left out.
He admitted there were some tough calls to make, but once he completed his selection process, there appeared to be clear thinking about who would board the plane bound Down Under.
With one eye on the 2026 Twenty20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, Conrad was not afraid to exclude some experienced heads to go with a younger crew.
He could find no place for the seasoned Reeza Hendricks, saying some players had gone past him.
Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickleton will open the batting with Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rassie van der Dussen to be dispatched as cover at the top or bolster the middle order.
“Unfortunately, for Reeza, this is how it has fallen; the other guys give us better options,” Conrad said this week.
He also spoke about fast bowler Gerald Coetzee falling down the pecking order, with Corbin Bosch banging the door down with some impressive performances.
He has not had a conversation with Tabraiz Shamsi regarding his future after the unorthodox left-arm spinner opted out of his national contract.
His talks with David Miller ended with the veteran being allowed to play in The Hundred, one of England’s shorter formats.
Van der Dussen has been omitted from the 50-over squad because he wants to give younger players chances to develop ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
It’s a brave approach heading to fortress Australia with a sprinkling of youngsters and without some proven old heads for the six white-ball matches.
He’ll know that there is no place to hide in Australia when things go south. It can be a tough place to tour.
But Conrad and his senior management deserve all the credit for believing and trusting in some exciting young talent to help get the job done Down Under.
The Herald
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