Gutsy Canning in Cobras squad for India

Cape Cobras wicketkeeper Ryan Canning, who did not feature in the team's successful run to the domestic Pro20 title in 2008/09, has earned a place in the squad for the Champions League in India in October.

Andrew Puttick, the ever-present gloveman in the Cobras' nine-match campaign which culminated in a win in the final against the Diamond Eagles in February, misses out on the first Champions League tournament.

The tall left-hander falls victim to the syndrome of being a batsman who can keep wicket. With the Cobras blessed in the batting department - international players Graeme Smith, Herschelle Gibbs and JP Duminy all available to the team for the trip to India - Puttick cannot make the line-up.

In a strong top-order the Cobras have 2008's leading run-scorer Justin Ontong and Henry Davids, who hit a century in the first game, against the Warriors.

Rounding out the attacking batting options in the team are the hard-hitting Richard Levi and Derek Brand, the latter making the cut ahead of Puttick because of his suitability to the 20-overs format.

Brand played four games for the Cobras last season, hitting 107 runs at a strike-rate of , and taking a wicket in the only over he bowled. He is a true all-rounder, though, with the ability to don the wicketkeeping gloves should the situation demand it.

As a specialist wicketkeeper, Canning will be important in Indian conditions. In 2008 he also performed superbly with the bat, hitting his maiden SuperSport Series century at Paarl and contributing several useful scores in the middle-order.

Meanwhile the Cobras will get their season under way with a SuperSport Series clash against the Diamond Eagles in Bloemfontein next Thursday.

Both sides will play their first two four-day games early due to their absence at the Champions League, where, depending on how they progress, they could spend most of October.

The Cobras' second SuperSport game will be against the Titans in Benoni, starting on October 24. The Eagles will face the Lions in Kimberley, from the same date.

Coach Shukri Conrad and a squad of 15 players will leave for Potchefstroom on Wednesday, where they will play 50-over warm-up games against the West Indies and North West on Saturday and Sunday.

On Monday they will drive to Bloemfontein ahead of the Eagles encounter.

Players not yet available are swing bowler Charl Langeveldt and captain Justin Kemp. Langeveldt continues to do rehab on his bowling shoulder after an operation and the aim is to get him to 80 percent of full fitness by the start of the Titans game. It is unlikely that he will play, though.

Kemp, who will captain the Cobras this season, is still playing for county side Kent.

Cobras squad for Champions League:

Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, JP Duminy, Henry Davids, Justin Ontong, Richard Levi, Ryan Canning, Derek Brand, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Monde Zondeki, SA Engelbrecht, Francois Plaatjies, Claude Henderson

Possible team to face Diamond Eagles:

Andrew Puttick, Alastair Gray, Stiaan van Zyl, Henry Davids, Justin Ontong, Richard Levi, Ryan Canning, Vernon Philander, Rory Kleinveldt, Monde Zondeki, Mario Olivier