Rassie van der Dussen expects Lhuan-dre Pretorius to use his 'good cricket brain' to adapt to T20

WHEN Proteas stand-in skipper Rassie van der Dussen made his first-class debut back in 2008 a couple of his teammates for the upcoming T20I Tri-Series in Harare were still in diapers.

But teenagers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Kwena Maphaka, who were both just two years old, now form the core of a whole new generation of talented South African cricketers that are being mass produced in the SA20 factory. 

Allrounders Andile Simelane and Dewald Brevis plus leg-spinner Nqaba Peter complete a dynamic group that have all been unearthed in South Africa’s premier domestic T20 competition.

Van der Dussen is certainly excited to be leading this group of young players in the Tri-Series, which kicks off against Zimbabwe in Harare on Monday.

“It’s really exciting. We’ve got four debutants, they're guys who have put in performances over the last 12 to 18 months,” Van der Dussen said.

“A guy like Luan-dre has banged the door down. Even a guy like Dewalf Brevis. He's played two (T20I’s) already, but he's had a great six months. First in SA20, then in IPL. And it just speaks of our depth. 

“We've got Nqaba Peter and a few youngsters actually coming in. Andile Similani is really exciting. Kwena Maphaka, obviously. He'll be raring to go, having had a disappointing Test in Bulawayo. He'll definitely come out with something to prove. 

“And that's exciting. You want guys pushing, you want as many players as possible pushing for spots in the team, not only in the team, but going forward in the long run as well.

“So that's where our team's at the moment. I'm really looking forward to those next two weeks.” 

All eyes will be on Pretorius though. The powerful left-hander has made an immediate impression in every format of the game he’s played thus far. From striking 97 on his SA20 debut for the Paarl Royals through to his magnificent 153 on Test bow a fortnight ago, the 19-year-old has shot the lights out. 

“He's a great kid with a really good head on his shoulders,” Van der Dussen said. 

“He's a guy who has the power game, obviously, and he combines that with talent and some flair. But he's got a really good cricketing brain as well, so it's not often that you see all those attributes together.

“That's why he could get into Test cricket and adapt straight away. He's obviously made his mark more in T20 cricket and SA20 and so forth and been to the IPL. 

“But he has really good first-class stats as well, and that shows you the guy has the game and the mind to adapt to any format, and that's what you're looking for.”

SQUADS FOR THE T20I TRI-SERIES OPENER AT HARARE SPORTS CLUB

Proteas: Rassie van der Dussen (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Rubin Hermann, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqabayomzi Peter, Lhuan-dré Pretorius, Andile Simelane.

Zimbabwe: Sikandar Raza (captain), Brian Bennett, Ryan Burl, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Tinotenda Maposa, Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekesa, Tony Munyonga, Tashinga Musekiwa, Blessing Muzarabani, Dion Myers, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri and Tafadzwa Tsiga.

Start: 1pm