Zubayr Hamza

His landmark innings came while turning out for Western Province in a fixture against Namibia. That performance put him firmly on the radar of selectors, who kept a close eye on his development, and he was subsequently promoted to the Cape Cobras.

Hamza counts Jacques Kallis as his idol, and that influence shows in an approach founded on patience and balance. He sets up at the crease with a tidy stance and relishes spending long periods in the middle, his talent supported by deep reserves of concentration. It is this capacity to occupy the crease that sets him apart from many of his young contemporaries.

He was educated at Rondebosch Boys' High School and has played for the South Africa Schools' side. He also captained the Western Province under-19 team, though he just missed out on a place in South Africa's under-19 squad. Besides his batting, he offers occasional leg-spin. The Jo'burg Giants selected him for the Global T20 league, which was scheduled for November 2017, but the competition was never staged.