Injury-plagued Proteas will have done some head-scratching for West Indies squad selection
The Proteas selectors face a challenging task in announcing their T20I squad against the West Indies, with potential inclusions from the SA20 and possible changes due to injury concerns, including key players like Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, David Miller, and Lungi Ngidi. Seen here: Ryan Rickelton. Picture: BackpagePix
Image: Backpagepix
The Proteas selectors are in an interesting position. On Thursday, they will announce their squad for the T20I series against the visiting West Indies next week, which could include players that did not make the initial T20 World Cup squad.
The squad will feature possible inclusions of players not involved in the SA20 playoffs, which means members of MI Cape Town and Durban Super Giants could find their names on the list.
It would be a big surprise then if MICT’s Ryan Rickelton doesn’t get the nod for the Windies series, as he was left out of the Proteas World Cup squad.
Rickelton ended the group stage of the SA20 as the top run-scorer. The left-hander topped the charts with 337 runs from 10 matches at an average of 42 and a strike rate of 156. That’s especially significant as he scored the majority of his runs after the Proteas announced their World Cup squad.
Rickeleton’s Two Centuries Stand Out Amid Proteas Squad Fitness Concerns and ICC Deadline
Rickeleton also has two centuries to his name, with only four being recorded in total this season so far.
There’s an important proviso for the Proteas squad selection though: the ICC allows changes to the team for any reason up until January 31.
That means a number of players included in the initial squad could be dropped due to fitness concerns, as the Proteas have been dealt a number of injury concerns.
Chief among those is Tony de Zorzi, but he is expected to be fit for the Windies series.
Then there is Donovan Ferreira, who is believed to have a fractured shoulder, meaning he would likely miss out on the World Cup squad. There are worries over the fitness of David Miller and Lungi Ngidi, who picked up new niggles/injuries this week.
We wait with baited breath then for the Proteas squad for the Windies. Over to you, Cricket South Africa.