Nortje gets the nod in Gibson’s squad

THE PROTEAS will carry a very unbalanced squad through the first three matches of the One-Day International series with Sri Lanka starting at the Wanderers tomorrow, with the bowling once more being given far greater emphasis than the batting.

Given recent displays it should have seemed clear that the batting should be prioritised but a bit like what happened with the Test team in the two matches with Sri Lanka, the home side have lightened the batting front and loaded up on seam bowlers.

There are just five frontline batsmen in the 14-man squad for the first three ODIs, three seam bowling all-rounders, two wrist-spinners and the rest quick bowlers, with Anrich Nortjé being next to be offered a chance to stake a World Cup claim.

This season Duanne Olivier (now very much persona non grata), Dane Paterson and Beuran Hendricks have all been given a chance in that role, the aim being to find a back up quick for the World Cup squad.

Nortjé’s been on the selectors and head coach Ottis Gibson’s radar since that explosive start in the Mzansi Super League. An ankle injury which required surgery ended his MSL stint, and he’s only recently returned to action for the Warriors.

Still experimenting with personnel and combinations is not where the Proteas wanted to be in the final OneDay series the team plays before the World Cup. z Cricket SA yesterday announced the nationally contracted players for the next year, with 16 men and 14 women granted contracts for the remainder of this year and the 2019/20 season. Theunis de Bruyn and Reeza Hendricks are the only two new male players to received contracts. Contracted men: Hashim Amla Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Reeza Hendricks, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn Contracted women: Trisha Chetty, Mignon du Preez, Shabnim Ismail, Marizanne Kapp, Ayabonga Khaka, Masabata Klaas, Lizelle Lee, Sune Luus, Zintle Mali, Raisibe Ntozakhe, Tumi Sekhukhune, Chloe Tryon, Dané van Niekerk, Laura Wolvaardt