Proteas captain Faf du Plessis says the door is open for all domestic players to stake a claim for World Cup selection.
The Proteas’ main focus in the limited-overs format has been preparing for the World Cup. This was evident in the teams selected. Against Sri Lanka, Reeza Hendricks and Lungi Ngidi made their ODI debuts, with both players stepping up to the plate and putting in dominant performances. The Proteas also experimented in the bowling department, giving 19-year-old Wiaan Mulder an extended run in the side.
According to Du Plessis, however, the opportunities won’t stop there.
‘What we have done over the last six months or so is to make sure that there’s a big push to give new players an opportunity. And I think it is very good for the general game in South Africa because we are giving guys a sniff of what it is like to play international cricket and also go back into their respective teams and perform well as national players and to have that name that they have to represent,’ said Du Plessis at the season launch on Tuesday.
‘So that’s been an important phase for us for the World Cup. Never have we done that. We’ve always been quite consistent with the teams that we picked.
‘Zimbabwe and Australia will be two more series that will be there [to give opportunities]. It’s exciting for guys in the domestic game that they know that there are still opportunities for them to put their hand up for the World Cup; by no means is there a closed door on any of the players.’
