Paul Adams tipping Schalk Engelbrecht and Nqaba Peter to be the future of SA spinners

Keshav Maharaj is 35-years-old. So too is Dane Piedt. 

These were the last two specialist spinners to feature in the Proteas Test side, along with 31-year-old all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy.

The leading bowler in the CSA Four-Day series last season was 38-year-old Shaun von Berg, followed closely by 31-year-old Prenalyn Subrayen. And while there’s a common belief that spinners have only truly mastered their craft once they have reached their 30’s, the advanced ages of the country’s leading spin bowlers may well pose a problem in the near future.

It is for this reason that Cricket South Africa bowling lead Paul Adams is hoping the upcoming South Africa ‘A’ tour to the West Indies will unearth a new generation of spinners in the country.

Along with stalwarts Subrayen and Bjorn Fortuin, the touring party also includes Lions leg-spinner Nqaba Peter and Titans’ “offie” Schalk Engelbrecht.

While Nqaba (23) has already had a taste of international action before with the Proteas’ T20 side on last year’s tour to the Windies, Engelbrecht’s selection has certainly surprised many. The 21-year-old only featured in three List A games for the Titans last season without playing any first-class cricket. 

However, the former SA Schools captain travelled with the Proteas Test side around the country during the home Sri Lanka series where he left a lasting impression on red-ball coach Shukri Conrad whilst also featuring for the SA Emerging XI last year.

“He's (Engelbrecht) come through the Under-19 structures,” Adams, who made his Proteas Test debut aged 18, told Independent Media. 

“He also came into the Emerging space when we played those one-dayers. He spent quite a bit of time with me talking, thinking of his game and how he needs to go about it.

“For me, it's all about how I develop these young spinners so they can bridge the gap going up as he forms part of one of those younger groups who are 22, 23.

“I find those spinners are getting very limited opportunities to play because if you look around the country, the majority of the spinners are quite experienced. And we're going to run through a skills gap when those players stop playing or whatever, we're going to have spinners who haven't even had the opportunity to play long-format games.”

Adams is hoping the Windies tour will provide Engelbrech with the opportunity to build his confidence, especially in terms of his unorthodox deliveries such as the doosra in match situations.

“He's a tall off-spinner. And he can bat a bit. So, he is a good package,” Adams said.

“He's developing all the time. He's got those variations. But for me, it's understanding what he needs to do first before he bowls those carrom balls and doosras.

“He's had this now for a couple of years. But look, it takes time, just ask Dane (Piedt). For him to have confidence to start bowling it in games and all of that is another thing than bowling it in nets. 

“So, I've already planted the fact that you have these deliveries because you can’t just become a one-trick pony, especially when it comes to shorter formats of the game. When you can deliver those things, you must deliver it. But obviously it's obviously about confidence and the environment that you're in.” 

Adams is also hoping Peter will also utilise the Windies tour to develop his craft further as there is a dearth of quality leg-spinners outside the one-cap Test veteran Von Berg.

“Obviously, Peter came through my hands in East London when I was at Border, but I haven’t spent much time with him since he moved to the Lions. 

“He's been at the international stage, having jumped to Proteas level. He hasn’t really had much time at the high-performance centre with a short stint at the national academy. 

“So, he's certainly one that's on the radar that I need to try and spend a lot more time with. We have to develop leg spinners, there's not much around.”