South Africa vs England 2020: Stuurman gets maiden call-up; Dale Steyn, Markram excluded
Cricket South Africa released a list of 24 players for the upcoming visit of England. Uncapped Glenton Stuurman has been called up but Dale Steyn was ‘unavailable for selection’.
The other big name player to miss out was batsman Aiden Markram, who last played white-ball cricket at the ICC World Cup 2019. Chris Morris has been excluded due to injury.
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Glenton Stuurman, a right-arm medium pace bowler, has played 43 matches in domestic white-ball cricket picking up 55 wickets. He has also picked up 35 wickets in ten franchise outings for the Warriors – a team in South Africa’s domestic T20 tournament. The 28-year-old Stuurman is currently self-isolating after coming in contact with someone who has the contracted the coronavirus but should be available by the time the England tour begins.
Because of his ability to move the ball both ways off the seam, Glenton Stuurman has earned comparisons with veteran South African pacer Vernon Philander. This is sure to raise expectations of South African cricket fans and Stuurman would be hoping to get a chance to showcase his prowess against a talented England side.
The only other player in the squad of 24 who did not turn out for South Africa last summer is Junior Dala, who played the most recent of his 11 white-ball internationals in March 2019 and has since struggled with a knee injury.
The South Africa squad also features a strong core of experienced players such as captain Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller and Temba Bavuma. But somewhat unusually for a South Africa squad picked to play at home, the group includes four spinners in Bjorn Fortuin, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi – who is probably the first-choice slow bowler.
Big squad needed for bio-secure bubbles: Victor Mpitsang
Newly-appointed Convenor of Selectors, Victor Mpitsang said: “With the bio-secure environment where movement in and out of the squad will be limited, we had to make sure that we have all our bases covered with the 24 players. It also gives the team the opportunity to play some inter-squad games just to make sure that they sharpen up those white-ball skills before the series start.”
The series, featuring three T20Is and three ODIs, will begin on November 27.
South Africa squad: Quinton de Kock (c), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Faf du Plessis, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lutho Sipamla, Jon-Jon Smuts, Glenton Stuurman, Pite van Biljon, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne.
Featured Image: Twitter/ICC