Proteas coach Shukri Conrad is excited for his team to finally get a chance to play in front of their home supporters when they meet Australia in today’s first ODI at Kingsmead.
The men’s national team were limited to just three home T20Is last season as Cricket SA began their preparations for next year’s ICC World Cup, to be staged in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia for the first time in 24 years.
But after a lean period, the Proteas are now set for a bumper home international season, starting with the Australian tour, which comprises three ODIs and three much-anticipated Tests.
The Aussies are followed by Bangladesh (two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is) before England arrive over the festive season, featuring three Test matches and three ODIs, including the reinstatement of the iconic New Year Test at Newlands.
“We had a taste of what the summer is about in Namibia for a few weeks. But that was just the appetisers,” Conrad exclusively told IOL Sport in a wide-ranging interview.
“It’s going to be a massive summer. An exciting summer. And one that, if you are a cricket fan and it doesn’t excite you, well, there’s something wrong.”
Playing at venues that are familiar to the Proteas, and in front of home supporters, is particularly important to Conrad, who had a special message for the nation.
“We obviously know that there’s a responsibility, especially at home. Our home support has been starved of Test cricket, especially in international cricket,” he said.
“Nowadays the guys play for so many teams. But there must be home. And playing for the Proteas is home. And home must be a lekker place.
“I think it was like two years ago when we last sat here and played here. So, yeah, it’s always about the country. And with all the things going on in the country, we need to provide hope.
“We need to provide a source of joyous occasion so that people can always get united. And even if it is only momentarily, we can share in what it is to be a South African. So, yeah, we definitely feel that we have a responsibility to all of South Africa.
“And as a men’s team, hopefully, we can show all men in South Africa what men should really be about, you know, and not what’s currently going on in our country.”
SQUADS FOR 1ST ODI AT KINGSMEAD
PROTEAS: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams.
AUSTRALIA: Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
Start: 10 am
