THE Proteas are set to face the West Indies in a three-match T20I series starting tomorrow (9pm SA time).
Independent Newspapers have selected five players to keep a close eye on over the course of the series...
Aiden Markram
The national team skipper must be tired of the white sand, coral blue beaches and rum punch, already having spent the best part of the past three months in the Caribbean.
He will certainly be looking forward to getting back to the bush and a good old South African braai when he returns home after this series.
But before that, he will be keen to rekindle some batting form.
Although his leadership skills were superb in guiding the Proteas to a first T20 World Cup final, his personal contribution with the willow was not up to his usual standards.
T20i Action Incoming!⚡️
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 20, 2024
Our tour of the West Indies will be coming to an end soon, but not before our boys in 🟢🟡 go head-to-head in a 3 match T20i series.
Catch all the action live, starting this Friday!🏏
📺: SuperSport Channel (201)#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt#SAvWI pic.twitter.com/YofFxLHOL5
Rassie van der Dussen
The former Proteas stalwart was overlooked for the T20 World Cup and at 35, will want to show coach Rob Walter that he need not yet be replaced with a younger pretender.
At his best, Van der Dussen remains a vital cog in the batting line-up as he can hold it all together in case of a top-order collapse, while also possessing the ability to play a forceful role, as he showed in the SA20 for MI Cape Town.
Wiaan Mulder
Fresh off a successful series with the Proteas Test side, Mulder is finally starting to show the promise everyone knew had when he was first picked as a 19-year-old.
Now 26, Mulder seems to have settled into his role, and has a wonderful chance to stake a claim for the all-rounder’s spot in the absence of the rested Marco Jansen.
Bjorn Fortuin
Always the best man, never the groom. That kind of sums up Fortuin’s stop-start international career.
The left-arm spinner is fantastic for the Paarl Royals in the SA20 and Lions in the T20 Challenge, but has always struggled for regular opportunities at the highest level due to the presence of Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Both are, however, not in this squad, and Fortuin finally has his chance to shine.
🇿🇦 We are back Trinidad! 🇹🇹
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) August 21, 2024
Our players departed for the Brian Lara Cricket Academy Stadium in Trinidad, ahead of their T20 Series.🏏#WozaNawe #BePartOfIt#SAvWI pic.twitter.com/3mRjGjochf
Kwena Maphaka
A Proteas T20I debut awaits the St Stithians matric pupil, which will make the 18-year-old the youngest player to represent the national team.
It is certainly an achievement that is warranted, for the left-arm seamer has shown his potential in the recent Under-19 World Cup, where he shattered all forms of records.
Maphaka has had a taste of the bright lights already by debuting for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, but the butterflies will be altogether different when he stands at the top of his mark with the new ball preparing to run in for his country for the first time.