South Africa have stuffed their A side with three wicketkeepers for their Twenty20 practice match against New Zealand next Tuesday. The front-runner is Cobras'
Dane Vilas, who was part of South Africa's unofficial T20 squad that toured Zimbabwe in June. Also in the mix is
Davy Jacobs of the Warriors and
Mangaliso Mosehle of the Titans.
Jacobs returned to professional cricket after an absence of a season due to a severe hip injury. He has had a successful comeback and has already scored two centuries in the first-class competition, where he lies second on the run charts, and two half-centuries in the one-day cup besides wicketkeeping.
Heino Kuhn has kept wicket ahead of Mosehle at the Titans, but Mosehle did the job at the under-19 World Cup in 2008. His century and two half-centuries in the one-day cup have got him noticed by the national selectors.
With Mark Boucher having retired earlier this year, South Africa are trying many of their options for a long-term replacement over the course of the summer. Quinton de Kock will play in the T20 squad with the three in the A squad bubbling under.
There are also some familiar faces making a return. Left-arm spinner
Roelof van der Merwe is back into the frame as well as middle-order batsman
Vaughn van Jaarsveld who has enjoyed good form in the one-day cup.
Dolphins' quicks
Kyle Abbott and
Craig Alexander join Lions' fast man
Hardus Viljoen in the pace attack. The allrounders' role has been handed to
David Wiese, who put in a sterling performance in the CLT20 semi-final. The only player who is also part of South Africa's T20 squad is Aaron Phangiso, the left-arm spinner who earned his maiden national call-up earlier today. The side will be captained by
Justin Ontong.
South Africa A squad: Justin Ontong (capt), Kyle Abbott, Craig Alexander, Davy Jacobs, Mangaliso Mosehle, Aaron Phangiso, Roelof van der Merwe, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Stiaan van Zyl, Dane Vilas, Hardus Viljoen, David Wiese