Talking about the above. I think this news release is very pertinent to the debate.
On Friday, Cricket South Africa announced a revamped programme for the Powerade National Men’s Academy that will see the selected squad being involved in a three-year cycle rather than the current one-year cycle.
‘The Powerade National Academy Programme forms a very strategic part of our developmental pipeline and has as its aim to prepare young players for the demands of professional cricket,’ commented CSA general manager of cricket Corrie van Zyl.
‘These selected players that are carefully identified include previous graduates of the SA U19 programme, performing senior provincial and emerging franchise players.
‘The new three-year cycle will be introduced with immediate effect during the 2018-19 season. This will include head coach Shukri Conrad determining a specific program for each player in conjunction with the player’s franchise or provincial coach, post the personal development plan (PDP) meeting with each player.
‘There will be a minimum of 15 players in the Academy Squad, who will also form the SA Emerging Players Touring Squad, and the squad may be added to at any time as new talent is identified or as players are promoted to the SA A squad by the national selection panel (NSP),’ concluded Van Zyl.
‘Powerade is an avid supporter of sports in South Africa and is a proud partner of Cricket South Africa as the official hydration partner to the Proteas,’ added Kamini Redhi, senior brand manager of advanced hydration.
‘Together with Cricket South Africa, Powerade is committed to providing young South African cricketers with the means to achieve their performance goals through the academy. We are incredibly excited about the young cricketing talent that will pass through the academy and are proud to be playing our part in their development,’ added Redhi.
The revamped programme will run as follows:
Specialised camps in and out of season for various cricket disciplines will be held at the Centre of Excellence (CoE)
Individual intervention coaching and monitoring visits at franchise or member level
Player development plan progress evaluation in conjunction with the franchise or senior provincial coach and player
Two-week preparatory camps prior to any in-or-outbound tour
Two-week induction camp for all players once a year
The NSP has, in conjunction with CSA’s High Performance Centre Coaches, selected the following squad of players for the first three-year cycle that runs until September 2021:
Powerade National Academy Squad
Tladi Bokako (Cape Cobras)
Eathan Bosch (Dolphins)
Matthew Breetzke (Warriors)
Nandre Burger (Highveld Lions)
Tony de Zorzi (Titans)
Tshepang Dithole (Highveld Lions)
Bjorn Fortuin (Highveld Lions)
Sibonelo Makhanya (Dolphins)
Wandile Makwetu (Titans)
Janneman Malan (Cape Cobras)
Sinethemba Qeshile (Warriors)
Kyle Simmonds (Cape Cobras)
Lutho Sipamla (Warriors)
Jason Smith (Cape Cobras)
Raynard van Tonder (Knights)
I would say Kyle Verreynne (21), Edward Moore (25), David Bedingham (24), Calvin Savage (25) & obviously Daryn Dupavillon (24)/Lizaad Williams (25) can be in SA A mix given opportunities but aren't in the academy squad or SA A squad right at this moment. Two of the best batsmen in the 4-day series is Vaughn van Jaarsveld (33) & Pite van Biljon (32) but it is unlikely we will see them pull on the green and gold.
But if we look at the pyramid.
CSA Contracted
Batsmen
Dean Elgar (31), Aiden Markram (24), Hashim Amla (35) , Faf du Plessis (34), Temba Bavuma (28), Dave Miller (29), JP Duminy (34)
Keeper
Quinton de Kock (26)
Spinners
Keshav Maharaj (28), Imran Tahir (39), Tabraiz Shamsi (28)
Seamers
Dale Steyn (35), Kagiso Rabada (23), Vernon Philander (33), Lungi Ngidi (22), Andile Phehlukwayo (22), Chris Morris (31)
SA A players (some more entrenched in Proteas set-up than others)
Batsmen
Pieter Malan (29), Sarel Erwee (29), Reeza Hendricks (29), Theunis de Bruyn (26), Farhaan Behardien (35), Zubayr Hamza (23), Senuran Muthusamy (24), Rassie van der Dussen (29), Christiaan Jonker (32), Khaya Zondo (28), Gihahn Cloete (26)
Keepers
Heinrich Klaasen (27) , Rudi Second (29)
Batting All-rounders
Wiaan Mulder (20), Dwaine Pretorius (29)
Spinners
Dane Piedt (28), Shaun von Berg (32)
Seamers
Dane Paterson (29), Junior Dala (29), Beuran Hendricks (28), Duanne Olivier (26), Anrich Nortje (25), Sisanda Magala (27), Robbie Frylinck (34)
CSA Academy squad
Batsmen
Janneman Malan (22), Tony de Zorzi (21), Matthew Breetzke (20), Raynard van Tonder (20), Sinethemba Qeshile (19), Wandile Makwetu (19), Sibonelo Makhanya (22), Tshepang Dithole (25)
Keepers
Breetzke, Qeshile & Makwetu can all keep.
Batting all-rounder
Jason Smith (24)
Spinners
Bjorn Fortuin (24), Kyle Simmonds (24)
Seamers
Nandre Burger (23), Lutho Sipamla (20), Eathan Bosch (20), Tladi Bokako (25)
*Dithole and Makhanya shouldn't be there at this moment. The fact they selected Simmonds as the other spinner with Fortuin did surprise me even though I was impressed when I saw him for Boland. Both spinners are slow left-arm. I think in their minds J.Malan, de Zorzi, Breetzke, van Tonder, Qeshile, Makwetu , Smith & all 6 bowlers are in their minds as potential Proteas realistically. Obviously they want black African batsmen and to work with (de Zorzi, Qeshile, Makwetu) is vital for them. I think J.Malan/de Zorzi has shown versatility that they can be an all format openers. Breetzke , van Tonder, Qeshile are the class players with definite test match potential who can bat top 4 in Limited overs cricket whereas Smith and Makwetu at their best and if they can get to peak ability then are limited overs options at 5/6/7 . I like the bowling options. Burger left-arm and can swing it at 135-141 whilst Sipamla has a lovely action and comes right over the top and hits the seam (I need to see what speeds he is now because I always though he can get quicker) and Bosch is your bowling all-rounder and I spoke about the other day in SA Domestic Thread.