NOWRA’S Nic Maddinson and Ulladulla United product Tom Engelbrecht headline the next generation of stars set to get a taste of international cricket, after being named in the Prime Minister's XI squad.
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The pair, as well as NSW’s Jack Edwards emerged as a star of the future when the 18-year-old blasted his way into the record books by becoming the youngest centurion in Australia's domestic one-day cup history.
Now the NSW Blues young gun will be thrown into the deep end against international powerhouse South Africa in a 50-over clash at Manuka Oval on October 31.
Jason Behrendorff will return to his hometown for his fourth cap since launching his career with a Prime Minister's XI appearance as an ACT player in 2008-09.
Nic Maddinson will continue his resurgence with another call-up coming a day after he was upgraded to a full state contract with Victoria.
A stint in the Prime Minister's XI gives Edwards another chance to flourish under the watchful eye of former Test opener Chris Rogers, with whom he has struck a close relationship in recent years.
Fairfax Media has revealed Rogers will coach the squadwith the former Test star the ideal candidate to mentor younger players as they test themselves against international opponents.
Edwards has stuck so close to Rogers - the Cricket Australia high performance and national performance squad coach - during his rise through the ranks that his teammates began ribbing him about their relationship.
Edwards is joined by emerging Western Australia wicketkeeper-batsman Josh Philippe and Max Bryant of Queensland, while Blues batsman Jason Sangha returns to the side for the second consecutive year.
ACT/NSW Country Comets star Tom Engelbrecht has been named 12th man to mark the fourth consecutive season in which the Prime Minister's XI has not had a local player in the final XI.
Former Australian skipper George Bailey will captain the Prime Minister's XI in the Proteas' first game on Australian shores since the infamous sandpaper scandal.
It looms as the first step for Australian cricket to mend relationships with South Africa's national side after the ball tampering saga in Cape Town that saw Steve Smith, David Warner and Cam Bancroft suspended.
The fallout will be an interesting subplot during South Africa's first series on Australian shores since the incident left the relationship between the two cricketing nations at a low point.
South Africa will meet Australia in a three-match one-day international series beginning on November 4, before playing a one-off Twenty20 international on the Gold Coast on November 17.
Hashim Amla and JP Duminy have been left out of South AFrica's squad as they recover from injury, while Dale Steyn has been included after his recent comeback to limited overs cricket.
PRIME MINISTER'S XI
Wednesday, October 31: Prime Minister's XI v South Africa at Manuka Oval, 1.50pm. Tickets from Ticketek.
Prime Minister's XI squad: George Bailey (c) (Tasmania), Jason Behrendorff (Western Australia), Max Bryant (Queensland), Ben Dwarshuis (New South Wales), Jack Edwards (New South Wales), Nic Maddinson (Victoria), Kurtis Patterson (New South Wales), Josh Philippe (Western Australia), Usman Qadir (Western Australia), Gurinder Sandhu (Tasmania), Jason Sangha (New South Wales). 12th man: Tom Engelbrecht (ACT/NSW Country).
South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn.
