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News

Three wicketkeepers for SA's 'A' side

South Africa's A side to play New Zealand next Tuesday has been stuffed with three wicketkeepers to keep options open for a long-term replacement for Mark Boucher. Justin Ontong will captain the side

Firdose Moonda
Firdose Moonda
13-Dec-2012
Davy Jacobs has had a fruitful domestic first-class season, and will be among the players fighting for the wicketkeeping spot  •  AFP

Davy Jacobs has had a fruitful domestic first-class season, and will be among the players fighting for the wicketkeeping spot  •  AFP

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

Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent