Conrad makes tough calls ahead of tour

UPON Shukri Conrad’s appointment as the Proteas all-format coach earlier this year, the whole country was curious to learn of his plans for the future of the team in terms of the personnel that would make up his squads.

- ONGAMA GCWABE

That curiosity was prolonged for a short while in the ongoing tour to Zimbabwe as the big dogs including Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada were rested following the WTC final at Lord's last month.

However, with the star players now back in contention for selection for next month's white ball tour to Australia, Conrad finally revealed his hand as he announced the T20I and ODI squads for the tour which will see South Africa play three T20Is and three ODIs.

With one eye on the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, Conrad made a number of changes to the team that played under former coach Rob Walter, the notable changes being that of the introduction of the youngsters Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis in the full strength teams. With Pretorius and Brevis having had an impressive SA20 and across all formats domestically, Conrad felt the youngsters were ahead of a number of batters in the pecking order.

As a result, Reeza Hendricks lost his place in the T20I squad while David Miller was allowed to fulfil his commitments in The Hundred, further creating space for the youngsters.