Johannesburg, 30 April (H.S.): Experienced pacers Dane Paterson and Ottneil Baartman, alongside young talent Nqobani Mokoena, have been selected for South Africa A's tour of England. The team will play two four-day matches against England Lions starting May 22.

According to Cricket South Africa, Marques Ackerman will captain the side, with Wandile Gwavu as coach. Former internationals Justin Ontong and Rory Kleinveldt are appointed batting and bowling coaches respectively.

Dane Paterson last played a Test in December 2024, playing a key role in South Africa's World Test Championship final qualification. The 37-year-old, without a central contract, returns for upcoming domestic Tests after missing Pakistan and India tours.

Meanwhile, 33-year-old Ottneil Baartman, omitted from the T20 World Cup squad, gets a Test comeback opportunity. Nineteen-year-old pacer Nqobani Mokoena, with three T20I caps, joins them. All three feature in the ODI team for three matches post four-day games. Quena Mafaka and Gerald Coetzee also make the ODI squad.

Tony de Zorzi returns from injury that ruled him out of T20 World Cup. Jason Smith, who played one World Cup match, returns too. Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, Sinethenba Qeshile, and Lesego Senokwane—players close to national selection—are included.

ODI squad features batsmen Lhuan-Dre Pretorius and Connor Esterhuizen currently in IPL. Pretorius has played all formats for South Africa, while Esterhuizen impressed on T20 debut in New Zealand.

South Africa A (Four-Day Team): Marques Ackerman (Captain), Ottneil Baartman, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Jordan Hermann, Rubin Hermann, Nqobani Mokoena, Dane Paterson, Sinethenba Qeshile, Lesego Senokwane, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen, Tiaan van Vuren, Cody Yusuf.

South Africa A (ODI Team): Marques Ackerman, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester, Bjorn Fortuin, Rubin Hermann, Quena Mafaka, Nqobani Mokoena, Nakaba Peter, Lhuan-Dre Pretorius, Sinethenba Qeshile, Jason Smith, Prenelan Subrayen.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar