• Focus will be on all-rounders

    Establishing themselves in the shorter formats of the game will be the primary objective of Chris Morris and David Wiese when South Africa tour Bangladesh in July, writes Kobus Pretorius.

    The Proteas are still searching for a long-term all-rounder to replace Jacques Kallis, who retired from international cricket a year ago.

    The squad left for Bangladesh late on Monday and the first game, a T20, will be played on Sunday.

    Morris will compete for a place in both the ODI and T20 team. Ryan McLaren will be his main competition for a place in the starting XI, unless the selectors manage to find a way to accommodate both.

    Wiese has only been included in the T20 squad and is yet to make his ODI debut. The tour will provide all three all-rounders with a chance to stake a renewed claim for themselves in tough sub-continent conditions that are sure to test them.

    Neither Dale Steyn nor Vernon Philander will play any part in the ODI series, being rested, but both will return for the two Tests towards the end of July.

    Morris is good enough to be picked on his bowling alone, while Wiese is more of a batting all-rounder who can do a job with the ball.

    It’s a pity Wiese wasn’t picked for the one-day side as well, as this would have been the perfect opportunity to introduce him to the format. With Morris and Wiese being two different types of all-rounders, it could have been interesting to see both play in the ODI side.

    Regardless, with South Africa’s tour to India in October and November in mind, the time to stick up their hands for the rest of the busy international season will be now.

    ‘The tour is a vital one for me,’ Morris admitted to SACricketmag.com. ‘I’m expecting lots of experimentation with team selections.

    ‘I have worked on my game enough to be there and now I have to show what I can do.’

    Wiese echoed those sentiments. ‘Every tour is important,’ he said.

    ‘I want to try and make an impact whenever I play.’