CRICKET NEWS - The SWD cricket team will kick off their campaign for the 2019/20 season in the Cricket South Africa provincial competition this weekend when they take on KwaZulu Natal at Kingsmead in Durban in a three-day match starting on Thursday. The limited over match will take place on Sunday.
Coach Baakier Abrahams will be in his third season with the SWD team and will aspire to continue with the upward curve in his team's performance after a steady performance last season.
SWD was extremely successful in the limited over version but they will be without their top runs scorer, Obus Pienaar, and bowling hero, Marcello Piedt. Both Pienaar (Knights) and Piedt (Titans) elevated their careers with franchise contracts.
SWD will also be without their captain Jean du Plessis, as well as the exciting youngster Mesuli Vuba, both of whom are unavailable due to exam commitments.
Kirwin Christoffels will captain the three-day team while Neil Hornbuckle will be in charge for the limited over match.
New signings Richardt Frenz - a middle order batsman from the North West Dragons - and Renaldo Meyer - an Oudtshoorn-born pace bowler from Western Province - will make their debuts for SWD. Three schoolboys will also form part of the touring party to Durban. Heath Richards, Jhedli van Briesies and Tyrese Karelse are still at school and will certainly be tested on the higher level, but the coach has given them a vote of confidence.
The SWD teams are:
Heath Richards, Kirwin Christoffels, Jhedli van Briesies, Richardt Frenz, Brendon Louw, Yamkela Oliphant, Neil Hornbuckle, Tsepo Ndwandwa, Renaldo Meyer, Stetan Tait and Bradley de Villiers.
Herschell America and Tyrese Karelse will be added for the limited over squad in place of van Briesies and de Villiers.
SWD cricket coach, Baakier Abrahams (centre,) with the debutants for this weekend's fixture against KwaZulu Natal at Kingsmead in Durban, from left: Tyrese Karelse, Heath Richards, Renaldo Meyer and Richardt Frenz.
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