Proteas geared up for challenge
CONRAD: UNDER-STRENGTH OUTFIT TICKING THE BOXES
The understrength Proteas Test team that is gearing up for the massive challenge of taking on hosts New Zealand in the first Test at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui from Sunday, is as prepared as they will ever be according to head coach Shukri Conrad.
The team just completed a three day warm-up game against a New Zealand XI yesterday, which ended in a draw at the Bert Sutcliffe Oval in Lincoln, and they will now head to Mount Maunganui before getting in their final few sessions ahead of the match.
Keegan Petersen is arguably the most recent Proteas regular in the team, having made his debut in 2021 and played 12 Tests since then, his last being against India at Centurion this past December.
Duanne Olivier is the most experienced player, having played 15 Tests since his debut in 2017, his last coming against Bangladesh in 2022.
Other players including Dane Piedt, Khaya Zondo, Zubayr Hamza, David Bedingham and Dane Paterson all have Test experience, but in the single digits, and the team will be led by Neil Brand, who is set to make his debut.
Despite the massive challenge that they face Conrad is extremely happy where the team is at and believes they are ready as ever for the match.
“I think we have pretty much ticked all our boxes in terms of our preparation. We fly out to Mount Maunganui tomorrow [today] and unless we encounter very different conditions to what is usually there, we are pretty comfortable and certain of a starting XI,” said Conrad yesterday.
“But it will be premature of me to suggest how we are going to go and what balance we are going to go with since we haven’t seen what conditions are there yet.
“But we have prepped really well for this tour. The prep started all the way back in November with a series against the West Indies A. The time spent here in New Zealand and the facilities has been nothing short of fantastic.
“So we are very happy where we are at. We have a good feel among the group and where I sit as a head coach I feel we are as well prepared as we will ever be.”