Duan Jansen, the twin brother of South African all-rounder Marco Jansen, has been picked for South Africa’s squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of Namibia and is making his international debut. The choice is a significant step in Duan’s career as he has the chance to advance his bid for a position in the national team.
The new-look South African side will be captained by left-arm spinner Bjorn Fortuin in the T20I tri-series and then will face Namibia in the three-match ODI series. A number of established players have been rested, giving a chance to many emerging cricketers to make their mark.
Duan Jansen Gets First International Opportunity
One of the key talking points in Jansen’s announcement of the squad is the choice of his selection. The all-rounder has left a mark both at home and on the field with the Titans.
South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad said that Jansen is a quality all-rounder with good character in his country career. His call-up provides him with an opportunity to show that he can make the step up to international cricket.
Jansen isn’t the only player getting a chance, as several other uncapped or relatively inexperienced players have been added to the team for the tour.
Fortuin Named Captain
South Africa’s T20I tri-series captaincy has been handed to Bjorn Fortuin. The left-arm spinner has plenty of experience in a team with a number of youngsters.
Fortuin has been a leader for the Lions in the past and has proven to be an effective leader at home. Conrad was confident about his team’s ability to lead the new-look team on the tour.
The T20I tri-series will feature South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe and will give the Proteas a chance to test a few of their players before they are assigned to white-ball cricket.
Several Players Earn First ODI Call-Ups
Connor Esterhuizen, Jordan Hermann and Nqobani Mokoena are all getting their first ODI call-ups. They have been included as a nod to the country’s emphasis on giving opportunities to players who have excelled in domestic cricket.
Jordan Hermann has already made his debut for South Africa in T20I cricket. He made his debut against New Zealand in March, but injured himself in the first match and only played one international game to date.
Now he will get his second opportunity to impress when he returns to the national setup.
Hermann Brothers Included
Jordan will also be accompanied in the team by his brother Rubin Hermann. Rubin, the wicketkeeper-batter, has made the cut for the Namibia tour.
Both brothers bring an interesting addition to the squad and another young wicketkeeper and batsman to the team for the future.
Eathan Bosch Still Awaits T20I Debut
Eathan Bosch is also in the squad and is still to make his T20I debut for South Africa. The son of former South African cricketer Corbin Bosch, Eathan will be hoping to use the opportunity to establish himself at international level.
The tour might see several players debut for the first time if he is selected with Duan Jansen.
Established Players Included
The squad is very strong with emerging talent but there are some centrally contracted players in the team as well. The group will include Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi and Kwena Maphaka who will bring their experience to the developing side.
Their inclusion should also help the younger players get accustomed to the rigours of international cricket, and allow the coaching staff to evaluate the entire team.
Shukri Conrad Backs Young Players
Conrad feels this tour is a great chance for players to learn from their international experience. He pointed to the work done by the likes of Connor Esterhuizen and Nqobani Mokoena in the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year.
The coach also said he had sympathy for Jordan Hermann, who missed his last chance at the international level due to injury. Conrad is now hoping to see him bring his talents back to the international arena.
He also singled out the domestic performances of Jansen and the leadership of Fortuin, suggesting both will be in key roles on the tour.
Namibia Tour Schedule
The T20I tri-series between South Africa, Namibia and Zimbabwe begins on August 28 and will continue until September 6. It will be the first T20I assignment for South Africa since the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
The T20I matches will be followed by three ODIs against Namibia from September 9 to 13. The white-ball doubleheader will provide South Africa with good practice in depth and will help to identify players who may be key to their national team.
South Africa Squad for Namibia Tour
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Bjorn Fortuin | Left-arm Spinner / Captain |
| Eathan Bosch | Right-arm Fast Bowler |
| Dewald Brevis | Batting All-rounder |
| Tony de Zorzi | Left-hand Batter |
| Connor Esterhuizen | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Jordan Hermann | Left-hand Batter |
| Rubin Hermann | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Duan Jansen | Left-arm Fast-Bowling All-rounder |
| Kwena Maphaka | Right-arm Fast Bowler |
| Nqobani Mokoena | Batting All-rounder |
| Nqaba Peter | Right-arm Fast Bowler |
| Lhuan-dre Pretorius | Wicketkeeper-Batter |
| Lutho Sipamla | Right-arm Fast Bowler |
| Jason Smith | Batting All-rounder |
| Prenelan Subrayen | Right-arm Off-spinner / Batting All-rounder |
The Namibia tour may have the potential to be a major test for South Africa’s white-ball rebuilding efforts, with several players vying for their first or next international opportunity. The journey is the start of what Duan Jansen hopes will be a successful international career, especially for him.
