New-look South Africa begin next adventure

Finally, South Africa will take the field again.

The cricketing world could be forgiven for thinking they had evaporated into the ether following their heart-stopping semi-final defeat to New Zealand in the World Cup more than three months ago. South Africa are the only Test team not to have returned to action since then. Perhaps cruelly, South Africa make their comeback to prepare for another global event - next year's World T20 - but they are a side ready for a new challenge with some new faces.

"This is exciting; it's nice to have young guys coming in. It's almost like the younger the guys are, the more energy they bring to the squad but then it's also important that we have the right senior guys on the bus to make sure they make the journey for the younger players easier," Faf du Plessis, South Africa's T20 captain, said. "I think that's what we are doing really well."

The T20 squad which left for Bangladesh on Monday night may not immediately look like a fresh side - it includes nine members of the 2015 World Cup squad and only one new cap. But crucially, it will feature an entirely different bowling attack to South Africa's usual arsenal. Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander have not been included to give the likes of Kyle Abbott, Chris Morris, Wayne Parnell, David Wiese, Beuran Hendricks and Kagiso Rabada a chance.

"It's a great opportunity for our next tier of bowlers to stake a claim and it's important that we develop the next tier," Russell Domingo, South Africa's coach, said. "If Dale, Morne and Vernon are consistently playing Test cricket, it doesn't give much opportunity to the next tier of bowlers."

But the youngsters have already been warned not to expect anything to go their way. "It's going to be a tough tour for them with the crowd, the weather, the nature of the wickets and the way Bangladesh are playing, but it will be great test of their character," Domingo said.

Although Bangladesh have developed a respectable pace attack of their own, and their conditions have become more seamer friendly - something du Plessis called a "huge surprise" - Domingo did not expect them to roll out the green carpet for his side. "I think the wickets will be typical sub-continent wickets. They will know we also have four quicks and if they prepare wickets that are going to suit fast bowling, it plays very much into our hands."

That will give South Africa, who will be under their new bowling coach Charl Langeveldt, the opportunity to utilise the variety they have occasionally been criticised as lacking when it comes to pace bowling. For Rabada, who regularly reaches speeds above 150kph, it will be about working on more subtle arts which he identified as "slower balls and reverse swing".

For the rest, it is a chance to perfect the death bowling they have struggled with in the past and for which they specifically hope Langeveldt will help them improve on. "Charl was one of the most successful back-end bowlers and he played a lot in the subcontinent. A lot of emphasis will be placed on that skill," Domingo said.

What South Africa have not forgotten is that this is still a tour to the sub-continent and spin remains a factor. It may seem strange that with that knowledge, they have chosen to rest their best limited-overs spinner, Imran Tahir, but again, it was a way of focusing on the future. The only new name in the side is legspinner Eddie Leie, who has been playing in the Caribbean Premier League following impressive performances in the South African domestic competition, and has a chance to put his hand up for World T20 inclusion.

"With a guy like Imran Tahir, we know what he can do, so it's a nice time for Eddie Leie, who we can see in those conditions and see what he can do," du Plessis said, "Mostly its about getting the younger guys prepared really well for when they get to India for the World T20."

As much as most teams like their preparation to focus on themselves and their own game plan in certain conditions, gearing up for a major tournament is also about understanding how to respond to a competitive opposition. It is why South Africa are looking forward to facing a Bangladesh side in ascendancy. Following their appearance in the World Cup quarter-finals, Bangladesh have achieved ODI series wins over Pakistan and India, and South Africa will be anticipating a similar fighting challenge.

"Bangladesh have changed that mindset. They are playing a lot more aggressively," Domingo said. "They seem to have really good energy and belief in their side at the moment. They've combined a new belief with a new set of skills which has made them much more effective and much more dangerous."

That is exactly the kind of team South Africa want to sink their teeth into as they return to the international fold.