TRIALS AND ERROR

THE search for the right player combinations and pairings for next year’s T20 World Cup continues for the Proteas as they take on England in three T20s this week.

Since coach Shukri Conrad took over the white-ball teams, the span have lost five out eight matches, losing a tri-series in Zimbabwe before going on to lose 2-1 against Australia Down Under.

Conrad has made a vrag changes since those two tours, dropping spinners George Linde and Nqaba Peter, and batter Rassie van der Dussen, while Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams and Donovan Ferreira have all been called back to the squad for the England series.

With the first of three T20s set to get underway at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff on Wednesday at 7.30pm, captain Aiden Markram emphasised that the team continues to bou towards making yet another World Cup final in India next year.

Markram wysed: “That’s what the goal is [making the final], trying to repeat that and take it a step further of course so that's sort of the long-term plan.

“Having a look at the personnel who we have in and around our group, who we feel can contribute to us lifting a trophy and getting those smaller combinations and pairings right.

“So, naturally you come here and you want to win, I’m by no means saying that we’re not here to win, but obviously with a bigger picture in mind being that the World Cup is in a few months’ time, we are looking at some exciting guys who are new and younger in the team and seeing how best we can put an 11 together.”

Elsewhere, David Miller has been ruled out of the series due to a right hamstring strain. Miller sustained the injury during the final week of The Hundred while playing for the Northern Superchargers. No replacement has been named.

Meanwhile, former Proteas all-rounder Albie Morkel has joined the support staff as a bowling consultant for the series.