Warhorses to bring stability to Cobras batting, bowling

THE CAPE COBRAS have resisted the temptation to blood teenage wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne in today’s Sunfoil Series encounter against the Titans at Newlands.

Verreynne, last year’s South Africa Under19 gloveman, was expected to do duty behind the stumps with regular keeper Dane Vilas flying off to join the Proteas on their threeTest tour of Australia tomorrow.

Instead the Cobras will opt for the experienced Andrew Puttick as a stop-gap measure, with the veteran now having the arduous task of keeping wicket and opening the batting. It will certainly be an interesting situation if the Cobras bat second again like last week against the Warriors, and Puttick opens the batting after standing behind the stumps for 144 overs.

The Cobras selection panel, headed by former Proteas swing-bowler Alan Dawson, are certainly of the belief that there is a need for some old warhorses to turn around the Western Cape franchise’s fortunes. They have called on two further veterans in both the pace bowling and batting departments this weekend.

Burly seam bowler Rory Kleinveldt, who is back from a productive spell at English County Championship side Northamptonshire, will be expected to add some bite to a thus far toothless Cobras attack, with Beuran Hendricks dropping out.

While he will certainly be mindful of his own performance upon returning to the side, Kleinveldt will also have to provide guidance for a group of young bowlers in the Cobras attack. Since bowling coach Charl Langeveldt’s ascension to the Proteas national side about 18 months ago, there hasn’t really been a senior figure within the Cobras camp who can help the bowlers.

Although Boland seamer Zakhele Qwabe is already 28-years old, he is a novice at franchise level and will be making his Cobras first-class debut this today at the expense of Tshepo Moreki.

Jason Smith has been sensational with the bat this season, and also picked up four wickets in the first innings of the opening game against the Highveld Lions at the Wanderers, but he too seems to drift in and out of spells. The Cobras can ill-afford that from their fourth seamer as his contribution with the ball is equally important to the team’s cause.

A little word of advice from Kleinveldt at mid-off could go a long way in settling down the likes of Smith and Qwabe.

Equally, the return of former captain Justin Ontong for Vilas will hopefully provide some sort of stability within the Cobras batting unit. Ontong is likely to bat between the promising Zubayr Hamza and Smith, and his presence at the crease could be crucial.

The Cobras have also flirted with the idea of Ontong opening the batting this season and could possibly take some of the pressure off Puttick through this measure. This tactic would allow Puttick some respite by moving him lower down the order. –

CAPE COBRAS SQUAD FOR NEWLANDS

Omphile Ramela (capt), Andrew Puttick, Zubayr Hamza, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Paterson, Jason Smith, Dane Piedt, Rory Kleinveldt, Aviwe Mgijima, Zakhele Qwabe, Justin Ontong