Captain Brand says weakened Proteas team has enough experience

JOHANNESBURG - New captain Neil Brand said he believed his below-strength South African squad had enough collective first-class experience to be competitive on their two-match Test tour of New Zealand.

Only seven of the 15-man squad have played Test cricket – and only two of them appeared in a recent home series against India. Most of South Africa's leading players were unavailable because they are contracted to the SA20 franchise competition.

"Someone pointed out that we have an average of 96 first-class games per player," said Brand, one of eight uncapped players. "That's a lot of experience. We're going to give it our best shot. I think it's good that we're going as underdogs. People have written us off and we're using that as motivation."

Brand was speaking at a press conference ahead of the team's departure for New Zealand.

Brand, who captains the Titans provincial team, said he was inspired by teammate and fellow left-handed opening batsman Dean Elgar, who retired from international cricket after the series against India.

"Opening the batting you have to learn to be tough. That's something I've learnt in the past few years, batting with Dean – how to score runs in tough situations. I've seen him do it and it makes me want to do it as well."

Brand said being underdogs would not take pressure off his team.

"At the end of the day we're still wearing the Proteas badge and we're desperate to come back with something," he said.

"New Zealand are a settled side and they have been very good in their home conditions. They've got a good bowling attack and a long batting line-up."

Brand said a three-match 'A' series against West Indies A, which featured most of the players going to New Zealand, had been invaluable.

"Going into that series I didn't really know anyone on a personal level. After those three games everyone was so tight, I am grateful for that."