Proteas embrace youthful energy in T20I tri-series with sights set on World Cup glory

T20 is firmly in focus for the Proteas as they’re currently engaged in a T20I tri-series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand in the neighbouring country.

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad, in his first official series as white-ball coach, and as sole selector of the side, has opted for youth to carry the battle to Zimbabwe and the Black Caps. 

So far it has worked a treat, with South Africa victorious in the opening encounter against the Chevrons on Monday, 14 July 2025, with fringe players George Linde, Dewald Brevis and Rubin Hermann all playing vital roles in the team’s five-wicket win.

Hermann was one of three players on T20I debut alongside Corbin Bosch and Lhuan-dre Pretorius. 

Bosch went at nine an over in a match in which Zimbabwe only scored 141, and Pretorius fell for a golden duck.

Hermann, meanwhile, after an impressive SA20 season at the start of the year for Paarl Royals where he scored 333 runs at an average of 41.62 in nine innings, carried that into the international stage after being rewarded.

The 28-year-old southpaw clubbed a team-high 45 off 37 deliveries, which included five fours and one six. However, not just happy with a solid international debut, Hermann was kicking himself at not finishing the job, having been dismissed with the team needing 12 more to seal the win.

“I was a bit more irritated that I left 12 runs on the table before I could actually shake hands with the guys and say I’ll pull the stumps out and end this game,” Hermann said at the post-match conference.

“That was effectively my role, just to be there at the end. I was disappointed I couldn’t do that, but maybe I am just nitpicking. Probably anyone would have taken that. 

“But I want to be a guy to win games for South Africa, and I should have been there at the end.”

Packed schedule

Outside of four Tests on the subcontinent toward the end of the year, South Africa’s schedule is packed with white-ball matches until the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in February.

South Africa travel to Australia and England in August and September for three one-day internationals and three T20Is in each country, and then have eight T20Is in total against Pakistan and India and then five T20Is against West Indies at home at the start of next year.

Toss in the SA20 that starts in December this year, and that’s a lot of the shortest format of the game being played by the country’s best cricketers.

On the international front, it allows Conrad to assess his options thoroughly heading into his first tournament as white-ball head coach. 

He’s laid down the marker already with regards to his spin bowling options, declaring that the tweakers in the squad in Zimbabwe are the front runners to be part of his T20 World Cup squad. The two spin bowlers who were at the last T20 World Cup, under Rob Walter in 2024, were stalwart Keshav Maharaj and the highest wicket-taker for South Africa in the format, Tabraiz Shamsi. 

Inside lane

In the current squad are Linde, Senuran Muthusamy and Nqaba Peter. Linde collected three wickets for 10 runs with the ball against Zimbabwe while Peter collected one scalp and conceded 22 runs in his three overs. 

Linde is also more than handy with the bat, although he didn’t get to prove it on Monday, scoring an undefeated run-a-ball three at the end of the match.

The all-rounder made his international debut in 2020, but under Walter and Mark Boucher before him was in and out of the national squad, only appearing 16 times in the five years after, since Conrad took over.

But he now feels backed and confident to perform regularly for the national side.

“We had a good conversation a month or two ago,” Linde said of his talks with Conrad. “It was positive, and he did say he wants me to be part of this T20 squad, and then we’ll take things from there.

“I told him I want to play for South Africa, I want to make myself available and I want to give myself the best chance to play for South Africa. It gives you a little bit more confidence. You can play with a little bit more freedom.

“But I still don’t really think too far ahead. I’m just trying to focus on the process now and take it game by game. If I don’t do well and Shuks decides no, I’m not the guy for him, then so be it.

“I’m just trying to do my best, and if I do well and I’m on that plane to the World Cup, happy days. It’s always been a dream of mine to represent South Africa in the World Cup.” DM

South Africa take on New Zealand on Wednesday before clashing with Zimbabwe again on Sunday.