South Africa name Men’s squad for World Cup

Indoor Cricket South Africa (ICSA) and the South Africa Indoor Cricket Federation (SAICF) have named the South Africa Men’s side for the upcoming World Cup in Sri Lanka, with the squad featuring several fresh faces.

Jose Van Der Berg will become South Africa’s 12th Men’s captain after being announced as the team’s skipper for the tournament, taking over from George Viviers. Van Der Berg made his debut on the tour of Australia last year and was vice-captain to Viviers during the Tri-Series.

There are big losses for the team this tournament however with their most experienced players, Viviers and Willie Brink, both out, the latter due to retirement. Also not in the touring party are Jason Olivier and Rudy Greyling.

It will also mean that a total of 13 debutants have been named for the last two international tournaments South Africa have played or will play, with six players featuring for the first time in the Tri-Series in Adelaide last September. Just three players from that Tri-Series, Van Der Berg, Reinhardt Venter, and Gerhard Wessels, who also made their debuts on that tour, are also in the World Cup squad. Debutant Tristan King was announced as the vice-captain of the side.

Gert De Beer will coach the side again, assisted by Ryan Cook, and manager Frans Jensen Van Rensburg (together, the management group). Speaking to the group directly, they broke down the side selected.

“This is a younger squad with no real specialists. They are an athletic group with a great attitude towards each other and the game. There is a good blend of seam, swing, and spin in the team. Batting wise, there are a few strong players and a few on the weaker side, as with any squad. We have two wicketkeepers (replacing Brink who was their first-choice keeper) and guys with some capable hands to fill in, should it ever get to that point.” the group said.

Whilst there is Van Der Berg, Venter, and Wessels, who played in the recent Club World Series in Dubai, the team also welcome back Gareth Rall, who is capped seven times across two tournaments in 2022, including the previous World Cup. Marcellus Oliphant, whose first and only appearance in South African colours was almost eight years ago at the 2017 World Cup, also makes a return. Both Reece Karg, who played in the Tri-Series for the Under-22 Men, and Zayne Human, make the move up from the Under-22 side to the Senior Men’s team for the first time.

Seven of the 12-strong squad come from Northern or North-West Gauteng, with the other handful rounded out from Central and Eastern Gauteng, Natal, and Eastern Province.

The squad was selected over three separate trial weekends, which combined both ICSA and SAICF players. “We feel this allowed players a fair opportunity to show their skills.”

South Africa is yet again in an unfortunate position where costs will dominate the ability of players to travel for such events. Indoor cricket boards are not able to support players financially in many respects, so the onus is on the players to fund themselves to travel and compete.

“With the changes, you have basically listed them – retirement and costs had a key role in the changes. As you know, this is all self funded and for us to travel last year to Australia and then a year later again to Sri Lanka is a massive cost. This age group is also made up of a lot of young men making their way in life, so they do not necessarily have the disposable income needed to fund two tours this close together. The cost of this tour currently is in the region of 60,000 ZAR (about 5,000 AUD).

Such costs meant they were only able to field a travelling side of nine players (originally 11 with two late pull outs) for the Adelaide series. The undermanned squad struggled in each of their six fixtures against New Zealand and Australia, losing all of them by comfortable margins. A nine-man squad allows little time for rest, rotation, and combination changes for sides.

A positive aspect for the national team will be having a number of training camps before the tournament. “It is important not only for skills enhancement but also to build this group into a cohesive unit. Never mind now having to start training for new rule changes” they said.

“SAICF has also made some positive contributions to our upcoming World Cup, and we need to thank them for that. They have made a start; we need to reciprocate.”

South Africa Open Men - Squad Summary:

• () Denotes number of caps

• \*Denotes debut

Retained from 2024 Tri-Series: Jose Van Der Berg (6), Reinhardt Venter (5), Gerhard Wessels (6)

In: Brian De Beer*, Calden De Jager*, Eduan Eksteen*, Gareth Rall (7), Justin Joseph*, Marcellus Oliphant (4)_, Reece Karg_, Tristan King*, Zayne Human*

Out: Jason Olivier, Willie Brink, George Viviers, Hano Grove (non-travelling reserve), Aidan Salie, Travis Lakin

Non-Travelling Reserves: Hano Grove, Shaun Brandt

Coach: Gert De Beer

Assistant Coach: Ryan Cook

Manager: Frans Jansen Van Rensberg

Image: Getty Images for Cricket Australia

Graphics: Shewon Fonseka, Indoor Cricket News Contributor