JB to lead Vipers against Black Caps

ACE batsman Jan-Berrie Burger will captain the Namibian cricket side during the two One Day International matches against a full-strength New Zealand side at Wanderers over the weekend.

Burger replaces long-time captain Deon Kotze, who stepped down after Namibia failed to qualify for the 2006 Cricket World Cup last month in Ireland. Kotze has been included in the side for the two days.The Namibia Cricket Board (NCB) announced that Burger would be in charge for the two games until a permanent captain was announced.NCB chairman Francois Erasmus told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the team looked good after a busy schedule leading to their World Cup-qualifying matches in Ireland.”We are giving a couple of youngsters a chance and all they need to do is to step up to the task.I think all of them are prepared in this regard and we hope for a good results against this world-class team,” he said.Veteran batsman Danie Keulder will not be available, as he is recovering from a back injury, while Bjorn Kotze is still in England on club commitments.Riaan Walters did not make himself available for the matches at the weekend, while Hugo Ludik and Sarel Burger are busy with exams in South Africa.Newcomers to the side include Niel Rossouw, ST Ackerman and Dawie Botha.It will be the first time that Namibia engages the Black Caps, as the New Zealand side is known.The visitors will be led by Stephen Fleming, with notable names such as Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris and Paul Wiseman also present.The Namibian team is as follows: JB Burger, ST Ackerman, Dawie Botha, Kola Burger, Louis Burger, Morné Karg, Deon Kotze, Niel Rossouw, Niklaas Scholtz, Gerrie Snyman, Stephan Swanepoel and Ian van Zyl.The coach is Andy Waller, while Wynand Louw will serve as the manager.Entrance fees for adults is N$10 and N$5 for children.The matches on the two days will start at 09h00.Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) sponsored the New Zealand tour to Namibia to a tune of N$375 000.Kotze has been included in the side for the two days.The Namibia Cricket Board (NCB) announced that Burger would be in charge for the two games until a permanent captain was announced.NCB chairman Francois Erasmus told The Namibian Sport yesterday that the team looked good after a busy schedule leading to their World Cup-qualifying matches in Ireland.”We are giving a couple of youngsters a chance and all they need to do is to step up to the task.I think all of them are prepared in this regard and we hope for a good results against this world-class team,” he said.Veteran batsman Danie Keulder will not be available, as he is recovering from a back injury, while Bjorn Kotze is still in England on club commitments.Riaan Walters did not make himself available for the matches at the weekend, while Hugo Ludik and Sarel Burger are busy with exams in South Africa.Newcomers to the side include Niel Rossouw, ST Ackerman and Dawie Botha.It will be the first time that Namibia engages the Black Caps, as the New Zealand side is known.The visitors will be led by Stephen Fleming, with notable names such as Daniel Vettori, Scott Styris and Paul Wiseman also present.The Namibian team is as follows: JB Burger, ST Ackerman, Dawie Botha, Kola Burger, Louis Burger, Morné Karg, Deon Kotze, Niel Rossouw, Niklaas Scholtz, Gerrie Snyman, Stephan Swanepoel and Ian van Zyl.The coach is Andy Waller, while Wynand Louw will serve as the manager.Entrance fees for adults is N$10 and N$5 for children.The matches on the two days will start at 09h00.Mobile Telecommunications Limited (MTC) sponsored the New Zealand tour to Namibia to a tune of N$375 000.