A 21-member squad, excluding national players Darryll Cullinan and Adam Bacher, was announced yesterday from which 15 will go on the tour to play matches against New South Wales and Queensland.
"We haven't really had a tough preparation over the last couple of years," said coach Jimmy Cook.
"Last year we had a camp at the Wanderers, and the year before we went to a camp in the bush.
"But this year we felt we needed a hard time out in the middle playing matches.
"I spoke to Geoff Marsh when he came out with Australia last season and this tour is the result.
"We've announced a 21-member squad because of a few injuries, and we've asked a few youngsters to train with us, although it doesn't mean that they'll be included in the eventual squad of 15," he said.
Transvaal's trophy cabinet has been bare over the last couple of seasons, and there will be a number of new faces to call on this summer to bring about a change in fortune.
"We had some problems with openers at the end of last season having lost both Mark Rushmere (to Eastern Province) and Brad White (Border), and with Adam Bacher on international duty, so we've gone for a bit of covering at the top with Sven Koenig (ex-WP) and Andre Seymore (ex-Northerns)," said Cook.
Transvaal's bowling has been bolstered with the acquisition of Derek Crookes from Natal who will add variety in the attack, and with fast bowler Steven Jack on the mend their attack will have a bit more sting to it.
"Steven has been bowling since the beginning of July, and while he's had a bit of a niggle in his back this last week, bowling coach Rodney Ontong has been pretty satisfied with his progress," said Cook.
"We set a certain fitness criteria for all the players to reach by the end of July and we've also worked with the individuals on their batting and bowling, so it's looking good so far," he said.
Transvaal will play a three-day and a one-day match against New South Wales and a two-day and two one-day matches against Queensland.
Squad:Ken Rutherford (captain), Clive Eksteen (vice-captain), Andre Seymore, Hussein Manack, Mark Benfield, Derek Crookes, Ross Veenstra, Richard Snell, Rowan Lyle, Dean Laing, Douglas Gain, Trevor Webster, Sven Koenig, Andrew Hall, Wayne Kidwell, Stefan Jacobs, Nic Pothas, David Terbrugge, Malan Morkel, Neil McKenzie, Steven Jack.
Coaches: Jimmy Cook and Rodney Ontong.
Manager: Mark O'Donnell.
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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 19:02