Fresh blood boosts Cobras for 40-overs game

New rules for a new competition, new players, and a condensed run of three games in five days - it all adds up to what Cape Cobras coach Shukri Conrad hopes will be a solid start in the facelifted MTN40 limited overs competition.

The Cobras will take on the Lions at the Wanderers on Wednesday in the first game of the new 40-overs competition, with National captain Graeme Smith at the helm, and acquisitions Justin Kemp and Robin Peterson in the squad.

Fast bowler Mario Olivier and middle-order batsman Lenert van Wyk are the other fresh faces in the team which returned home on Saturday after a strenuous run in the Champions League in India, where the Cobras were beaten in the semi-finals by Trinidad and Tobago.

The Cobras will follow up Wednesday's game with a mouth-watering duel against the Titans at Centurion on Friday, when plenty of national players will be available and looking to prepare themselves for the limited overs matches against England from mid-November. On Sunday the opposition will be the Warriors in East London.

All-rounder Rory Kleinveldt will play only in Wednesday's game before flying off to represent South Africa in the Hong Kong Sixes at the weekend, while swing bowler Charl Langeveldt will only feature in Sunday's match.

"Charl saw his surgeon on Monday. They are happy with the progress he is making, but it was felt he could do with a week's rest after coming back from India," Conrad said.

Langeveldt had right-shoulder surgery in May and hurt the joint in the Cobras' first Champions League match before returning in the semi-final.

"I know the national selectors want to see him in action," added Conrad> "I'm really happy to have the new guys come into the squad. They bring a freshness... it's a new competition and there should be no lingering thoughts of India," the coach said.

Players left out after the Champions League campaign are wicketkeeper Ryan Canning, Henry Davids, Derek Brand, Vernon Philander and SA Engelbrecht. For some of them, there will be opportunities when national players Smith, JP Duminy and Langeveldt are away, but their "demotion" should also be seen as a chance to up their performances.

Andrew Puttick will keep wicket. That strategy is partly down to the rule change which allows 12 players to play. Leaving Canning out means the Cobras can pick a genuine bowler as their 12th player.

"The 12th player can be beneficial if you get the right mix," said Conrad. "We are pretty strong in our batting line-up, which almost affords us the opportunity to play an out-and-out bowler as our 12th man."

Herschelle Gibbs, dropped from the Proteas one-day squad, will probably bat at No.4 for the Cobras. "Herschelle can't wallow in self-pity. This is a new challenge for him," said Conrad.

The Cobras' first home game in the MTN40 will be against the Dolphins at Newlands next Friday.

Cape Cobras

(from):

Graeme Smith (captain), Andrew Puttick, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Justin Ontong, Justin Kemp, Stiaan van Zyl, Rory Kleinveldt, Robin Petersen, Charl Langeveldt, Monde Zondeki, Mario Olivier, Lenert van Wyk, Francois Plaatjies