Pitch Perfect: Sangha Makes Debut as Australia Opt to Bat First

Sangha rushed in for debut as Australia bat first

By Jack Paynter

August 30, 2023

Emerging leg-spinner Tanveer Sangha has been handed an international debut in Australia‘s first T20 international against South Africa after Adam Zampa was a late withdrawal due to illness. Sangha is one of four debutants for Australia, joining Matt Short, Aaron Hardie, and Spencer Johnson, as Proteas skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and asked the visitors to bat first in Durban.

Sangha‘s Journey to International Debut

The 21-year-old spinner, Tanveer Sangha, will be playing just his fourth competitive match in a year after missing the entire 2022-23 Australian summer due to a stress fracture. The injury was suffered in a practice game in Coffs Harbour on the eve of the season. Despite not being initially selected in Australia‘s T20 squad for the South African tour, Sangha‘s impressive performance in the Hundred playing for Birmingham Phoenix earned him a call-up.

South Africa’s Selection

South Africa has named two debutants of their own, with batting prodigy Dewald Brevis and speedster Gerald Coetzee selected in the T20 side for the first time. Known as ‘Baby AB’ for his resemblance to AB de Villiers in terms of stroke-play, Brevis had garnered attention in the T20 circuit when he was bought for over A$500,000 by the Mumbai Indians in the 2022 Indian Premier League auction. Coetzee, who can hit speeds up to 150kph, has already made his Test and one-day international debuts earlier this year.

Australian Debutants’ Impressive Performances

The quartet of debutants for Australia have showcased their talent in recent years in the KFC BBL. Matt Short, the reigning player of the tournament, has consistently scored over 400 runs for the Adelaide Strikers. Spencer Johnson has earned a reputation as one of the competition’s best death bowlers after showcasing his skills for the Brisbane Heat last season. Aaron Hardie topped the BBL|12 runs tally with 460 runs and an impressive strike rate of 141 for the Perth Scorchers. Tanveer Sangha, despite being absent from the BBL last summer, has impressed for the Sydney Thunder since his debut in 2020.

The Start of an Exciting Journey

As Australia‘s new T20 captain, Mitch Marsh, said at the toss, “It’s kind of the start of this T20 team’s journey to (the World Cup) next year, every team in world cricket is the same. It’s an exciting time, there’s so much cricket coming up, and hopefully, we can start tonight with a win.”

Series Schedule

• August 30: First T20I, Durban (August 31, 2 am AEST)
• September 1: Second T20I, Durban (September 2, 2 am AEST)
• September 3: Third T20I, Durban (September 3, 10 pm AEST)

Conclusion

The debut of Tanveer Sangha and the inclusion of other impressive young talents in the Australian squad add excitement to the T20 series against South Africa. As both teams embark on their journey to the World Cup, these matches will provide valuable opportunities for players to prove their worth and claim a spot in their respective teams. Cricket fans around the world can look forward to an exciting contest between the bat and ball as the series unfolds.