After a successful ICC Under-19 World Cup campaign, it is back to the drawing board for Cricket South Africa (CSA) and the Coca-Cola SA u19 squad’s new management team as a fresh crop of players prepare for their first camp.
A fresh new squad of talent has been named, and will meet at the organisation’s Centre of Excellence in Pretoria from 28 June to 2 July 2014. There will be a lot to play for as the 15-man squad for the team’s tour to England in July will be selected at the camp’s conclusion.
The camp will consist of fitness tests, fielding assessments, tactical decision-making, skills training and matches. It will be the group’s first gathering since the World Cup, with only two players from that squad, Andile Phehlukwayo and Sibonelo Makhanya, qualifying for the tour to England.
Lawrence Mahatlane is eager to embark on a new journey with the players. It is his first assignment since his appointment as head coach was announced by CSA in April of this year.
“It’s exciting times for myself and youth cricket in this country,” he said. “South Africa is spoilt with having an abundance of talented youngsters and my coaching staff and I can’t wait to see what the players attending the camp will bring to the table.
“The tour to England is definitely a big incentive for the guys selected to attend this camp. This will be a great opportunity for them to show us what they can contribute to the team,” he continued.
The selected SA u19 squad will travel to England from 23 July to 23 August. The tour will consist of a two-match Test series and five-match ODI series.
“This tour will obviously be important as it will be our first step in setting the groundwork for ultimately defending the World Cup title in 2016,” Mahatlane added. “We had a very successful home series against England last year and we want to ensure that we keep our reputation of being a strong cricketing nation intact come the end of this tour.
“In the meantime, we will pour our energies into the preparation for this camp and ensuring that we take our best possible squad of 15 so that we can keep on target,” he concluded.
Under-19 camp squad of 25
Matthew Christensen (Rondebosch Boys), Sibonelo Makhanya (DHS), Sohail Mahmoud (Maritzburg College), Michael Stannard (St Andrew’s School Bloem), Sean Whitehead (St Andrew’s School Bloem), Hanco Olivier (Grey College), Brandon Glover (St Stithians), Ricardo Vasconcelos (St Stithians), Lesego Senokwane (St Conrad’s), Katleho Leokaoke (HTS Potch), Keith Dudgeon (Parktown Boys), Ryan Rickelton (St Stithians), Rivaldo Moonsamy (St Alban’s), Jean Heunis (Langenhoven Gym), Andile Phehlukwayo (Glenwood), Andrew Rushmere (St Andrew’s College), Dayyaan Galiem (Rondebosch Boys), Lwandiswa Zuma (Maritzburg College), Marques Ackerman (St Stithians), Grant Roelofsen (KES), Janneman Malan (Waterkloof), Alex Meyer (HTS Potch), Kabelo Sekukhune (Hans Moore), Stefan Klopper (Centurion), Aiden Brooker (Noord-Kaap).
