CA XI named for Proteas warm-up

Spin-bowling allrounder Arjun Nair and in-form batsman Ryan Gibson headline a 12-man Cricket Australia squad named today to take on South Africa in a two-day tour match at Adelaide Oval on October 22-23.

The team has been selected by the Youth Selection Panel, and contains some of Australia's most exciting emerging talent, with all 12 players aged 22 or under.

"This is a really exciting opportunity for these players to test their abilities against quite a formidable South African side," CA National Talent Manager Greg Chappell said .

"Ten of the 12 players in this side are currently playing with the CA XI squad in the Matador BBQs Cup and they will come in with some really solid match practice at an extremely high level of competition.

"It's another step in stretching these young players to compete at a higher level and see how they fare.

"We believe they have the capabilities to compete against the South Africans, and are excited to see what they produce."

Victorian Bushrangers allrounder Matthew Short will captain the side after his recent stint as vice-captain of the CA XI during the Matador Cup.

Nine of Short’s Matador BBQs Cup teammates also feature in the squad, including 17-year-old Queensland Bulls fast bowler, Xavier Bartlett, and explosive Blues batsman Gibson, whose tournament to date has featured a century as well as scores of 97 and 68.

Nair and fast bowler Brendan Doggett – who was named the Lord's Taverners Indigenous Cricketer of the Year earlier this year – are two players who will also be looking to build on some promising performances in the 50-over competition.

Ben McDermott, who is currently with the Tasmanian Tigers squad, and exciting Western Australia spinner Kyle Gardiner are the two players not in the CA XI Matador BBQs Cup squad.

The CA XI match will be the first of two tour matches ahead of the Commonwealth Bank Test Series against South Africa, which begins on November 3 at the WACA.

CA XI v South Africa: Matthew Short (c, Vic) Arjun Nair (NSW), Josh Inglis (WA), Ryan Gibson (NSW), Sam Harper (Vic), Ben McDermott (Tas), James Bazley (Qld), Brendan Doggett (Qld), Ryan Lees (Tas), Xavier Bartlett (Qld), Thomas O'Donnell (Vic). Kyle Gardiner WA.

Coach: Greg Blewett. Assistant Coach: Luke Williams.