Proteas under Conrad: Expect the unexpected

Proteas fans might need to shelve all their past thinking of the national team because times are changing under Shukri Conrad.

In fact, you can also expect the unexpected from Rob Walter too from initial observations.

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But let’s get back to Conrad.

Proteas mixing it up under Conrad

The new red-ball coach appears to be using the West Indies series as a “sighter”. And it’s taken many fans by surprise. The initial squad saw Lungi Ngidi dropped which was certainly far from expected and the axe falling on wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne was another eye-raising moment.

Conrad placed the captain’s armband on Temba Bavuma and then went out about his business. So what else has changed or been unexpected?

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The first Test saw Ryan Rickelton miss out and Keegan Petersen return to bat at number five, which is now his given position despite Petersen starting well at three for the Proteas.

Well, the second Test saw Petersen dropped and Rickelton included. Who saw the decision to give Petersen just one Test back as a straight forward one?

Then in the first Test, the Proteas coach gave Senuran Muthusamy a go as a batting allrounder. He didn’t excel at Centurion and was axed but it wasn’t just one spinner that leapfrogged him it was two – both Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer are getting a chance in Johannesburg.

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Both can bat, so Muthusamy’s time in the team might be up. Or might not, let’s see what Conrad does next.

Coetzee has lots to do

Oh, and the shocks and surprises didn’t stop there as Marco Jansen was rested which is odd given that he’s relatively new to the Test scene, the Proteas don’t play another Test match for ages and of course, that kingpin speedster Anrich Nortje is out injured.

It leaves Gerald Coetzee with an awful amount to do in the match in just his second outing for the Proteas.

It’s been a blistering wild ride under Conrad so far.

It makes a massive change from seasons past when players were given several matches to prove themselves and changes were done as a necessity rather than for any other reason.

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