Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Thursday announced a strong South Africa A (SA ‘A’) touring squad, including several Proteas players, to tour England next month.
Dolphins batter Marques Ackerman will captain SA ‘A’ which sees top order batter Tony de Zorzi and seamer Ottneil Baartman included.
There is also a return to the national fold for experienced Western Province seamer Dane Paterson.
The SA A side will play two four-day matches and three 50-over matches against England Lions from 22 May – 09 June.
Warriors batter Jordan Hermann has also been selected for the red-ball leg of the tour following his recovery from a hamstring injury that ruled him out of the T20 International series against New Zealand in March.
Dolphins fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena has earned his maiden SA ‘A’ call up.
SA ‘A’ head coach Wandile Gwavu said: “We’ve continued to back a core group of players who have shown consistency within the SA ‘A’ setup and for their domestic teams.
“This tour is a great chance for that group to test themselves in English conditions, and we know that someone like Dane brings a wealth of experience in those conditions.
“I’m looking forward to seeing him alongside Ottneil as we build towards a busy home summer and the opportunities it presents at Proteas level.”
He added that “a number of the one-day squad members were part of the recent T20 series against New Zealand, and this tour gives them another opportunity to keep learning, adapt to different conditions and grow their own game”.
The squad will depart for England on 16 May, ahead of the first four-day match, which gets underway on 22 May at Arundel Castle Cricket Club Ground.
The tour then heads to Beckenham for the second match starting on 29 May.
The 50-over series will begin on 5 June at Grace Road in Leicester, followed by matches at the New Road ground in Worcester on 7 and 9 June.
South Africa A Four-Day Squad against England Lions:
Marques Ackerman (captain, Dolphins), Ottneil Baartman (Dolphins), Tony de Zorzi (Western Province), Bjorn Fortuin (Lions), Zubayr Hamza (Lions), Jordan Hermann (Warriors), Rubin Hermann (North West), Nqobani Mokoena (Dolphins), Dane Paterson (WP), Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors), Lesego Senokwane (Titans), Jason Smith (Dolphins), Prenelan Subrayen (Dolphins), Tiaan van Vuuren (Knights), and Codi Yusuf (Lions).
South Africa A One-Day squad:
Marques Ackerman (c), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee (Titans), Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen (Lions), Dian Forrester (North West), Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Kwena Maphaka (Lions), Nqobani Mokoena, Nqaba Peter (Lions), Lhuan-dré Pretorius (Titans), Sinethemba Qeshile, Jason Smith and Prenelan Subrayen.
Photo: Grant Pitcher/Gallo Images
