It’s anyone’s guess who’ll be behind the stumps when South Africa line up against Sri Lanka for the first ODI at the R. Premadasa Stadium at 11.30am today.
With star wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock rested for the 50-over games, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma says they have not yet decided which one of Heinrich Klaasen or Kyle Verreynne will wear the gloves.
De Kock is one of three star men missing the ODI series, with David Miller (hamstring) and Lungi Ngidi (personal reasons) also staying behind in South Africa.
It’s the battle for De Kock’s replacement that is the interesting one, with both Klaasen and Verreynne being picked as specialist batters in the team recently.
Bavuma says of their choice behind the stumps: “Obviously the starting XI still has to be finalised, but I guess whoever comes in to keep, we’re confident that they can do the job.”
He adds: “We are missing key players. With them there is experience missing on the field. In saying that we back the guys who are coming in.
“I don’t think we need to shy away from that, if ever there is a chance to give the guys an opportunity, it’s now - when there’s lots at stake.
“We are trying to get accumulate as many points as possible to qualify for the 50-over [World Cup] campaign.
“But I don’t think we are compromising because we are missing a couple of guys.
“Ideally if you have a pool of 15 guys you can select from for the country, that’s ideal. And the only way to grow that base is to give guys an opportunity.”