Walter says Proteas are broadening base of players to build squad depth

By Ayanda Nyuswa

Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter has emphasised the need to broaden the base of players in the national set-up to build depth for the future while staying competitive in matches. Walter, who became the first coach to reach the final of a World Cup with the men’s senior Proteas team, announced three squads for the upcoming One day international series against Afghanistan, which will be followed by a white ball tour against Ireland with matches played in September and October. 

Dolphins All-rounder Andile Simelane was the only player who received his maiden call-up in all white ball formats, after making the ODI squad that will face Afghanistan (18-22 September) and the T20 squad that will tackle Ireland (27-29 September) in a two-match series later this month. The 21-year old, was part of the South African Emerging squad that faced Zimbabwe last month, and most recently the South African A side that tackled Sri Lanka in a One day series. Jason Smith, a Dolphins teammate of Simelane, received his maiden international call up in the ODI squad alongside spinner Nqaba Peter.

Speaking to the media on Monday morning, Walter highlighted the need to select young players who have high potential in order to create squad depth and not rely on the same group of the tried and tested.

“The reality is that we can’t rely on the one group of players to win matches for South Africa,” said Walter. 

“The players you see in that squad are either high potential players that we believe can make big contributions for South Africa moving forward, or the next best players in the country. The only way to figure out if they are good enough is to expose them to good international competition. We are broadening our base of players, we don’t want to spread the net too wide, but we do want to make sure that we have players who are good enough to win games for South Africa.”

“If you want to keep relying on the same faces to do that, what happens with injuries, what happens with retirements, what happens in all those instances?”

“Again, the only way to know is to keep exposing (the players) and the only way to grow is to keep exposing. The balance is a tough one but we are trying to get that balance right, and as I said we always go out there to win games of Cricket for South Africa,” Walter concluded.