Ngam to make his welcomed return against Australia A

Mfuneko Ngam will make his much awaited return to top class cricket when he turns out for South Africa A against Australia A in a seven match one-day series starting in a day/night match at Potchefstroom on Wednesday 4 September.

Ngam who has been plagued by injuries over the past two seasons has been working out in the gymnasium and with Kepler Wessels to get him back to full fitness. Bowling with a lot of pace and variation at the South African training camp earlier this month he showed that he was well on his way to a full recovery. At that stage and according to himself he was close to 98 percent fit and raring to go. All eyes will be on his form and fitness.

Neil McKenzie, Gary Kirsten and Steve Elworthy have also been given the chance to prove themselves on home grounds before the series against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and ultimately the World Cup gets under way. All three were left out of the national squad for the ICC Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka.

Daryll Cullinan, after his actions and misunderstandings last season, seems to have been left out in the cold and one wonders if his international career has come to an end.

Together with the experience, youth has been included in the squad to meet a very powerful Australian outfit. Jacques Rudolph and Martin van Jaarsveld after a successful overseas campaign are joined by Loots Bosman, Robin Peterson, Thami Tsolikilie and Ashwell Prince.

The remainder of the team, which can truly be called a South African A team is made up of Andrew Hall, Mornatau Hayward, Justin kemp, Andre Nel, Errol Stewart and David Terbrugge.

All these players have the ability to reach their goals of playing in the World Cup. It is now all up to them to impress.

The full South African A squad for the first three one-day matches is:

Neil McKenzie (capt) Northerns
Loots Bosman Griqualand West
Steve Elworthy Northerns
Andrew Hall Easterns
Mornantau Hayward Eastern Province
Justin Kemp Eastern Province
Gary Kirsten Western Province
Andre Nel Easterns
Mfuneko Ngam Eastern Province
Robin Peterson Eastern Province
Ashwell Prince Western Province
Jacques Rudolph Northerns
Errol Stewart KwaZulu-Natal
David Terbrugge Gauteng
Thami Tsolikile Western Province
Martin van Jaarsveld Northerns