South Africa A Squad Announced for England Tour: Paterson and Baartman Lead the Charge
Building Depth: South Africa A Set Their Sights on England
In a strategic move to bolster their international pipeline and prepare for a grueling home season, South Africa has announced the squads for the South Africa A tour of England. The tour, which pits the Proteas’ second-string side against the England Lions, is designed to test the mettle of both seasoned veterans seeking a return to the national fold and emerging talents looking to make their mark.
The tour will kick off on May 22, featuring two challenging four-day matches designed to simulate the pressures of Test cricket. Leading the charge is batter Marques Ackermann, who takes the captaincy, while the coaching staff is anchored by South Africa’s white-ball fielding coach, Wandile Gwavu. To ensure the players receive top-tier technical guidance, former international stalwarts Justin Ontong and Rory Kleinveldt have been brought on board as batting and bowling coaches, respectively.
The Return of the Veterans: Paterson and Baartman
One of the most significant talking points of the selection is the inclusion of experienced seamer Dane Paterson. At 37 years old and without a current national contract, many observers believed Paterson’s international aspirations had reached their end. However, his pedigree remains undeniable. Paterson was a key figure in the XI that secured South Africa’s qualification for the World Test Championship final during the Boxing Day match of 2024. Although he missed out on the final XI at Lord’s and was absent from the recent away tours to Pakistan and India, his recall suggests that the national selectors value his experience and skill set for the upcoming eight-Test home summer.
Similarly, Ottneil Baartman finds himself with a golden opportunity. The 33-year-old was a subject of considerable debate after controversially missing out on the T20 World Cup squad. By including him in the red-ball setup, the selectors are giving Baartman a clear pathway to push for a permanent Test place, rewarding his domestic form and providing him a platform to prove his versatility across formats.
Youth and Raw Pace: The Mokoena Factor
While the veterans provide stability, the inclusion of 19-year-old Nqobani Mokoena adds a thrilling dimension to the attack. Described as a “tearaway,” Mokoena has already earned three T20I caps, showing flashes of brilliance that have caught the eye of the national selectors. His inclusion in both the four-day and one-day squads indicates a desire to fast-track his development in English conditions, where his raw pace could prove a significant weapon against the England Lions.
Strengthening the Batting Order
The batting department sees the return of Tony de Zorzi, whose presence is a welcome boost after an injury forced him to miss the T20 World Cup. De Zorzi’s experience in high-pressure environments makes him a cornerstone of both squads. He is joined by Jason Smith, who, despite being part of the T20 World Cup squad, saw limited action with only one appearance. This tour represents a vital chance for Smith to establish himself as a reliable middle-order option.
Further depth is added by the Hermann brothers, Jordan and Rubin, as well as Sinethemba Qeshile and Lesego Senokwane. While Qeshile and Senokwane have frequently hovered on the fringes of the senior national team, this tour serves as a final proving ground to bridge the gap between domestic dominance and international consistency.
Transitioning to White-Ball Cricket
Following the conclusion of the red-ball matches, the focus will shift to three one-day fixtures. The white-ball squad retains the core of Baartman and Mokoena, but adds the firepower of Kwena Maphaka and Gerald Coetzee.
The batting lineup for the limited-overs games features two high-profile names currently competing in the IPL: Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Connor Esterhuizen. Pretorius is already a versatile asset having played for South Africa across all formats. Esterhuizen, meanwhile, arrives with significant momentum following an impressive T20I debut in New Zealand, where he finished as the leading run-scorer.
Tour Schedule and Venues
The tour will be split across several iconic English venues. The two four-day matches will take place at Arundel—a familiar ground where the team previously prepared for the WTC final—and Beckenham. The one-day matches will then move to the historic grounds of Leicester and Worcester.
Full Squad Lists
South Africa A Four-Day Squad:
- Marques Ackerman (Captain)
- Ottneil Baartman
- Tony de Zorzi
- Bjorn Fortuin
- Zubayr Hamza
- Jordan Hermann
- Rubin Hermann
- Nqobani Mokoena
- Dane Paterson
- Sinethemba Qeshile
- Lesego Senokwane
- Jason Smith
- Prenelan Subrayen
- Tiaan van Vuuren
- Codi Yusuf
South Africa A One-Day Squad:
- Marques Ackerman (Captain)
- Ottneil Baartman
- Gerald Coetzee
- Tony de Zorzi
- Connor Esterhuizen
- Dian Forrester
- Bjorn Fortuin
- Rubin Hermann
- Kwena Maphaka
- Nqobani Mokoena
- Nqaba Peter
- Lhuan-dré Pretorius
- Sinethemba Qeshile
- Jason Smith
- Prenelan Subrayen
