Former Kolpak player Rilee Rossouw of the Knights. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

Rilee Rossouw of the Knights. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

Former Kolpak players back on Proteas radar

The door remains ‘open’ for veterans such as Rilee Rossouw and Wayne Parnell to force their way back into the Proteas team.

Former Kolpak player Rilee Rossouw of the Knights. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

Rilee Rossouw of the Knights. Photo: Shaun Roy/BackpagePix

Rossouw last played for the Proteas in 2016, with the national team having earmarked the gifted batsman as someone worthy of long-term investment, but he then dropped the bombshell news that he’d signed up for a Kolpak deal.

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Now 32, Rossouw is no longer a youngster, but he has returned to South Africa to play for the Knights and very quickly demonstrated that he remains one of the most talented batsman on the local circuit – most particularly impressing during the local T20 knockout series in October.

Parnell, who is also 32-years-old, has sent out a stark reminder that he could also add value as an experienced all-rounder.

Proteas coach Mark Boucher name-dropped both Rossouw and Parnell when reiterating that they could come back into the selection reckoning.

“With the Kolpak guys, we’ve always said that the guys need to come back into our system and do really well, and we’ll judge them on how we’re going to play in our franchise system.

“We can’t judge them on what they have done abroad. There have been quite a few players that have done really well. Rilee is one of them, Wayne Parnell is another … if they are going about their business in our franchise system, then there is no reason why we can’t look at them to add more depth to our Proteas squad.”

Boucher added that he would also be open to conversations around facilitating a possible return for Faf du Plessis, who has retired from Test cricket, but still remains available in the shorter formats of the game.

“I certainly don’t think the door is closed for anyone. The Faf conversation was had, and unfortunately, it just didn’t work out with the scheduling and all that stuff (for him to be included in the T20 World Cup squad).

“It’s been tough during Covid times and bubble life, I understand from his perspective with family, has been very tough. Going forward, hopefully we can get out of bubble life as soon as possible and get back to some sort of normality with regards to touring.

“I haven’t sat down with the selectors and spoken about the future of Faf yet, but we will definitely have that conversation with regards to Faf and other players as well.”

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