Five Test cricketers included in South Africa's squad for spin camp in India
As many as five Test players have been named in Cricket South Africa’s annual spin camp which is slated to be held in Mumbai. The preparation program will mean that the likes of Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Simon Harmer, Temba Bavuma and Dane Piedt are set to return to India after being part of the South African team who were routed 3-0 by the hosts.
With spin playing a crucial role in ending South Africa’s Test dominance during the 2015-16 season, the national board is keen to ensure that the upcoming batch of players are given an opportunity to improve their skill levels with and against the turning ball.
While van Zyl and Harmer have participated in similar camps on Indian soil, the rest of the cricketers will also seek to develop their ability to cope when confronted with turning pitches. The week-long camp will begin on May 14 and sees a strong contingent of fourteen South African players participating in it.
CSA High-Performance Manager Vinnie Barnes stated, “The program has been one of the major features on the CSA HP Skills Program and has been held annually either in India or Sri Lanka.”
He added, “Simon Harmer, Dane Piedt, Prenalen Subrayen and Keshav Maharaj who have been on previous spin camps, have seen the benefits of working with top Indian spin coaches. It has also become quite an important initiative to improve our batsmen’s techniques and game plans against spin.”
The spin bowlers selected for the camp are Bjorn Fortuin, Simon Harmer, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Tshepo Ntuli, Aaron Phangiso, Dane Piedt and Prenelan Subrayen. Promising batsmen such as Temba Bavuma, Reeza Hendricks, Smangaliso Nhlebela, Hector Ngobeni, Stiaan van Zyl and Dane Vilas.
The training camp will be overseen by CSA batting consultant HD Ackerman and CSA spin bowling consultant Claude Henderson. Seasoned domestic spinner Nilesh Kulkarni who had also represented India in 3 Tests and 10 ODIs has been primarily enlisted as a consultant to help the left-arm spinners in Maharaj and Subrayen.
Kulkarni’s long-time Mumbai teammate Amol Muzumdar will work with the talented group of batsmen on how to approach batting on raging turners. An excited Maharaj enthused, “It promises to be another really good learning experience and I will try to gain as much knowledge and skill as possible whilst I’m there.”