Klusener pleased with Dolphins depth

The Durban side named their respective squads for the season on Wednesday but the primary focus was on the Momentum One Day Cup, which gets underway when the Dolphins host the VKB Knights at the City Oval in Pietermaritzburg on Sunday.

Coach Lance Klusener had the luxury of picking a side he believes is well-balanced with both experienced campaigners and talented youngsters. Morne van Wyk wears the captain's armband once again this season, while the likes of Robbie Frylink, Ryan MacLaren, Craig Alexander and Vaughn van Jaarsveld offer plenty of experience to back him up.

Klusener said the current squad has him confident for the season ahead.

"Ideally we’d like to win all competitions; that’s where we are as a squad and that’s the expectation from management. It’s a tough ask but I don’t think it’s an ask that we can’t achieve," said Klusener.

“I think we’ve got an excellent mix; guys like Morné (van Wyk), Ryan McLaren, Robbie Frylinck – guys that have been around for a long time – and then also guys that have been in the system for five or six years now."

"It's important for them to make that transition from just being a junior player to taking responsibility in making decisions. For the likes of Andile Phehlukwayo and Sibs Makhanya to play around those experienced heads is great for us too. They've worked extremely hard in the off-season and batting with guys like Ryan and Morne will accelerate their growth," Klusener said.

The coach was also pleased with the depth of the Kwa-Zulu Natal squad which was also named midweek. Many of those players will have just missed out on selection for the A-side, but Klusener said that competition between players in both squads was healthy.

"We've got guys away with the national team who have come out of this system which is excellent. There is some good backup and there are a couple of niggling injuries which are keeping a few guys out. Hopefully in the next week or two we can select from a full contingent but I'm happy and I think there is decent competition for places and that suits us just fine," Klusener said.

The Dolphins face the Knights on Sunday. Play gets underway at 10h00.

Sunfoil Dolphins squad:
Morné van Wyk (captain), Craig Alexander, Cody Chetty, Cameron Delport, Tshepang Dithole, Robbie Frylinck, Ryan MacLaren, Keshav Maharaj, Sibonelo Makhanya, Kyle Nipper, Andile Phehlukwayo, Mat Pillans, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Lance Klusener (coach), Rivash Gobind (assistant coach)

KwaZulu-Natal squad:
Khalipha Cele, Daryn Dupavillon, Bruce Kerr, Craig Kirsten, Senuran Muthusamy, Ayavuya Myoli, Johnny Riekert, Calvin Savage, Daniel Sincuba, Daryn Smit, Prenelan Subrayen, Jonathan Vandiar, Roger Telemachus (coach)

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