Cobras keen to show their skills in the sunshine again

THE outdoor phase for the Cape Cobras’ pre-season will take shape this week when they embark on a tour to Durban, culminating in the inaugural Kasi Coastal Challenge T20 against the Dolphins at Chatsworth on Friday.

“We will play in a practice match on Tuesday and Wednesday against a combined team of the Dolphins and the KZN team, and will also play a T20 against the same opposition on Thursday,” said Ashwell Prince, the head coach of the Cape Cobras.

“The players are excited to execute the skills they have demonstrated at the indoor nets of Bishops, but we don’t have high expectations as all our training has so far been done indoors,” Prince added.

Sherman Baatjes, strength and conditioning coach of the Cape Cobras, said the fitness tests have gone brilliantly to date. “The past three weeks were some of the toughest fitness periods of the season. D-Day will be on September 3 and 4 when the guys will do a yo-yo test, run two kilometres in less than eight minutes and complete 40-metre sessions in less than six seconds. Every player will also be subjected to a skinfold test to establish the percentage of body fat,” he said.

The Cape Cobras will create a fourth test which will be performed in the week of September 24, a week before the first four-day match of the season against the Knights, starting on October 1.

“The whole winter we have been in the indoor nets. I am excited about the players’ work ethic and enthusiasm in the practice, but we are a little bit frustrated by having to be playing indoors so it’s good to get outside practice. The outcome of the matches in Durban is secondary to the idea of getting outdoor exposure,” Prince, pictured, said.

“Our planning for the season is taking shape. I cannot recall having to work as hard in my playing days as my team have had to work in this off-season,” Prince said.

Cobras chief executive Nabeal Dien is also excited by the Kasi Coastal Challenge.

“The idea is possibly to make this an annual event. We thank the Dolphins for inviting us to take part in this exciting event and look forward to extending an invite for a return leg in Cape Town,” Dien said.

Wayne Parnell, Rory Kleinveldt, Pieter Malan and Dane Paterson are not in the squad which will travel to Durban due to county and SA ‘A’ commitments respectively.

The Cape Cobras travelling squad: Aviwe Mgijima, Dane Piedt, David Bedingham, Dayyaan Galiem, Ferisco Adams, George Linde, Janneman Malan, Jason Smith, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Mthiwekhaya Nabe, Simon Khomari, Tladi Bokako, Zubayr Hamza.