Proteas head coach Mark Boucher is demanding better fitness from his players, in line with international standards.
Sisanda Magala, considered the best domestic white-ball bowler, who took the most wickets for the Lions to win the recent domestic T20 Challenge – has failed to meet the national team’s conditioning standards, based in part on a 2km time trial which the team members are required to finish in nine minutes.
The Daily Maverick quoted Boucher as saying: ‘It is an area where we’re working hard to try [to] get him to a fitness level that makes him eligible to play for South Africa.’
Proteas conditioning coach Tumi Masekela has been coaching Magala to give him the best opportunity.
Said Boucher: ‘He’s still got a little bit of time and he’s within the squad now. We’re hoping he’ll be available for selection for the first game and if not we’ll keep pushing him to get down to that minimum requirement, and hopefully we’ll see him in a national shirt.’
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has established new conditioning standards for the players to meet in a bid as much to keep up with international trends as to address a slip in fitness levels.
Boucher says that with so much uncertainty regarding most aspects of the game at the moment, it is important to try to control what they can.
‘Form is temporary but fitness as a professional sportsman is something you can control,’ he said.
The new standards have been welcomed conditionally by the South African Cricketers’ Association (Saca), subject to fair implementation for all and ensuring that there’s enough support to achieve blanket execution.
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