Daily Maverick
Dailymaverick logo

South Africa

South Africa, Sport

Walter looks to develop 'high potential talent' Simelane as Proteas hunt for next all-rounder

Walter looks to develop 'high potential talent' Simelane as Proteas hunt for next all-rounder
Andile Simelane of SA Emerging during the CSA One Day Cup, Division 2 final match between ITEC Knights and SA Emerging at Mangaung Oval on October 20, 2023 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo by Charle Lombard/Gallo Images)
Keanan Hemmonsbey
By Keanan Hemmonsbey
16 Sep 2024
Facebook
1
Several players will be given the chance to audition for a regular role in the Proteas’ first choice white-ball-playing XI over the next few weeks.

The Proteas will play 12 white-ball matches across the next two months with an eye on broadening the talent pool, with a particular interest in finding the next best all-rounder.

Marco Jansen, who has been a mainstay as the first-choice all-rounder across formats for South Africa, is currently in a 12-week “rehabilitation break”.

This has provided white-ball coach Rob Walter with an opportunity to attempt to unearth some competition for Jansen and possibly even an all-rounder companion in the playing XI for the lanky left-arm quick.

“All-rounders create balance and, in particular, top seamers who are all-rounders,” Rob Walter said in a recent press conference.

“With people who can do both skills equally well and play in the team with either skill, we’re going to be continually driving towards unearthing, developing and growing (them) and seeing where that leaves us.”

Dolphins all-rounder Andile Simelane is one of the players Walter has identified, despite still being wet behind the ears domestically, having only played 40 white-ball matches in his career.

Getting on the field is not the priority with Simelane at the moment — it’s learning within the Proteas environment, according to Walter.

“There are 16 members in the Afghanistan (series) squad; we’re taking Andile as that 16th player,” he said about the 21-year-old.

“We’re doing our best to take what I call ‘high-potential talent’ players to expose them to the Proteas’ environment, or to the requirements of international cricket.

“The emphasis is not necessarily on playing, but more around the initial exposure to cricket at a higher level.

“There was an opportunity to include him in the T20 squad; there are only two games, and I can’t foresee much jostling from a team point of view... you never know, injuries do happen, and we’ve seen it happen in the last two series we’ve been in.”

Finding balance


Another Dolphins all-rounder, Jason Smith, is also in line to make his one-day international debut when the Proteas take on Afghanistan from next week.

Smith was part of the Proteas T20 squad that was whitewashed 3-0 by West Indies in the Caribbean recently.

It was the second time in the space of a few months that the Proteas – with a largely experimental team – went down to the West Indies in a T20 series by that margin.

The same fate may befall South Africa again when they take on Afghanistan and Ireland with many first-choice players rested. The Proteas seem to be sacrificing short-term success for long-term goals.

Andile Simelane of SA Emerging during the CSA One Day Cup, Division 2 final match against ITEC Knights at Mangaung Oval on 20 October 2023 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. (Photo: Charle Lombard / Gallo Images)



“It’s a tough one because I understand the bigger picture in widening the depth within the squad, but in the same vein, from a player and competitive point of view, winning is the main thing,” ODI skipper Temba Bavuma said about balancing winning and developing the team.

“That’s why we train.  That is something I’ll be stressing and emphasising within the team. We can’t allow our standards and level of excellence to drop within our team.

“With all the experimenting that we do, we have to make sure that we’re still prioritising the result.”

Jostling for spots


Wiaan Mulder is the third all-rounder in all the white-ball squads who will stake a claim for a regular run in the side.

Mihlali Mpongwana, meanwhile, who was part of the previous Proteas ODI squad that took on India in December last year, has been omitted due to only just recovering from an injury that has hindered his ability to bowl.

“He’s still returning to bowling from an injury he had throughout the winter,” said Walter. “At this stage, he hasn’t been considered purely because he’s not fulfilling the all-round role that I would expect him to do.

“Obviously, he’s done well domestically and was part of the squad on the back of those performances. He’s one more all-rounder in our scope, so as soon as he’s back to full bowling fitness... as far as I’m aware he’ll be bowling in the next four-day game (SA ‘A’) if he’s selected.

“So, he’s on track, I just wasn’t happy that he’s ready to bowl at international level yet.” DM

South Africa’s first match is a one-day international against Afghanistan  on 18 September, before then taking on Ireland in T20 and ODI series. All the matches will take place in the UAE.

Categories:

Tags: