The domestic limited-overs season explodes into action this week when the annual Sports Trust Cricket Challenge takes place at the Wanderers Stadium on Wednesday.
The match traditionally pits the Standard Bank Cup champions against ”The Rest of South Africa XI”, and this year cricket fans will have the bonus of seeing in action all 14 members of the South African squad to tour India.
With Andrew Hall and Justin Ontong turning out for the Lions, national coach Ray Jennings has confirmed that he will select his 11 from the remaining 12 national squad members.
The squad have been taking part in an intense training camp at the UCB’s High Performance Centre at the University of Pretoria for the past five days, and the challenge game will provide the players with an ideal opportunity to get some match practice ahead of their departure for India on Thursday November 11.
It will also give cricket fans in the Gauteng region a chance to see the new-look national squad in action for the first time since Jennings took over as coach.
Aside from Ontong and Hall, the Highveld Lions, who beat Easterns in the final of the Standard Bank Cup last season, will feature five players with international experience, including Neil McKenzie, Adam Bacher, HD Ackerman and Derek Crookes.
Cricket South Africa, with the assistance of its loyal limited-overs cricket sponsor Standard Bank, will make a donation of R100Â 000 to the Sports Trust.
Formed in 1994, the Sports Trust has played an instrumental role towards levelling the playing field for sport-loving individuals from previously disadvantaged communities.
The ”Best against the Rest” will be played on Wednesday November 10, at the Wanderers. — Sapa
Rest of SA: (from) Graeme Smith (captain), Boeta Dippenaar (vice-captain), Hashim Amla, Zander de Bruyn, Jacques Kallis, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Shaun Pollock, Jacques Rudolph, Thami Tsolekile, Alfonso Thomas, Martin van Jaarsveld.
Highveld Lions: (from) Andrew Hall, Adam Bacher, HD Ackerman (captain), Neil McKenzie, Justin Ontong, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Derek Crookes, Ahmed Omar, Eugene Moleon, David Terbrugge, Enoch Nkwe, Garnett Kruger.