Dolphins shift focus to red ball cricket

The Dolphins won the final edition of the old 4-Day Domestic Series last season in an emphatic victory over the Momentum Multiply Titans but will go into this first match of the new era with a different looking side due to injuries and unavailability of a number of players.

Prenelan Subrayen, Eathan Bosch, Grant Roelofsen and Lifa Ntanzi are all unavailable for selection and talisman Keshav Maharaj as well as Andile Phehlukwayo are on duty with the Proteas, however coach Imraan Khan knows he has a well-balanced, strong squad to choose from.

“There will be a lot of familiar faces in the starting eleven but there will also be a lot of new faces,” Khan said. “With the injuries come opportunities for other players to step up.

“We’ve managed to source Rubin Hermann to come in on loan as a wicket keeper for this match because of the absence of Grant (Roelofsen).

“He’s a really good cricketer and has spent a few years at the Titans prior to the restructure and we are looking forward to watching him over the weekend.”

Following a busy early season period where the Dolphins spent the entire T20 competition in the Free State and Northern Cape, Khan wanted to give his players a bit of a break before they hit the ground running this week to focus on red ball cricket.

“After so much time in the bubble I wanted the boys to have some time with their families and get away from the game a bit before we went to Cape Town.

“We had a nice session on Tuesday but lot of our preparation for this week was done well before the T20 competition even started.

“Our focus was that we were prepared from a bowling loads perspective and we had to make sure that the guys were ready to meet the challenges of four day cricket.

“Gavin (Muir) our strength and conditioning coach has made sure that our bowlers are prepared for the pressures by bowling double spells throughout training days so that when we start on Friday the boys are ready to bowl extended spells.”

After featuring for the Dolphins in the T20 Knock Out Thando Ntini, Bryce Parsons, Jason Smith and Odirile Modimokoane are also in line to make their first class debuts for the side.

Hollywoodbets Dolphins v Six Gun Grill Western Province:
Sarel Erwee, Marques Ackerman (captain), Keegan Petersen, Khaya Zondo, Jason Smith, Eathan Bosch, Rubin Hermann, Odirile Modimokoane, Darryn Dupavillon, Bryce Parsons, Ottniel Baartman, Ruan de Swart, Kerwin Mungroo, Thando Ntini.