Harmer and Piedt hope for SA call-ups

South Africa could call up two new faces for the tour to Sri Lanka in July, both off-spinners who can bat, as Simon Harmer and Dane Piedt have impressed at domestic level and could pair up with Imran Tahir.

South Africa could call up two new faces for the tour to Sri Lanka in July, both off-spinners who can bat, as Simon Harmer and Dane Piedt have impressed at domestic level and could pair up with Imran Tahir.

Harmer, the Warriors all-rounder, and Piedt, of the Cobras, both took over 40 wickets in the first class season recently, and both feel they would be good additions to the squad, Harmer with his conventional spin and Piedt with his arsenal of variations.

Harmer told <i>Cricinfo</i>: "I would hope I am being considered. I've performed well domestically and for South Africa A. I think I tick all the boxes.

"I do have variations but I don't think it is necessary to use them all the time. And I offer something in all three spheres because I bat and field as well."

Harmer spent time with the national team in March ahead of the first Test against Australia, and while Beuran Hendricks has made more of an impact, Harmer found the experience valuable for his future plans.

He said: "They were very welcoming and Beuran and I were part of everything. We played in a warm-up match and then we went into the training where I could see they were very focused and specific in their preparation.

"Russell Domingo (the coach) makes sure they have everything available – whether guys want to face spin, fast bowling, short-pitched bowling, whatever. And their net sessions are a lot longer than what we had at franchise level. They are a full three hours."

Piedt, who averages just over 24 with the ball in First Class cricket, said of a potential call-up to the Proteas: "It would be reward for a good season."

He added of his bounty of variations: "That just worked for me and it has worked for me since I started playing. To move away from that won't be part of my plan.

"With Cobras, I was given the responsibility of bowling teams out and that's how I did it. I really took to that."

The Cobras are the domestic champions for two seasons running, and Piedt believes this is a big reason for the attention being paid to him, and will be satisfied with biding his time for the Cape Town outfit.

Piedt opined: "If you don't win trophies, you probably won't get a look in. At the Cobras, we just want to win trophies and we don't look at the next level.

"Guys like Robin Peterson always tell me not to compare myself to others and just to be relaxed and focused on my own game. So if I am given the opportunity to play for South Africa, I will take it with both hands.

"But just to be in the reckoning makes me really proud. And if I don't get picked, I will go back and work hard at the Cobras."

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