Proteas white-ball coach Rob Walter has somewhat guardedly given his implicit approval to Cricket South Africa's (CSA) relaxed fitness criteria ahead of the new season, which is now focused on a catching-flies-with-honey approach than rigid enforcement.In a communique circulated to local players, the federation states that while its mildly controversial two-kilometre run standard remains 8 minutes 30 seconds and 9 minutes 30 seconds for men and women respectively, a new provision has been implemented whereby national players can still compete at international level at "coaches' discretion".The time requirement - along with overall skinfold counts - were placed squarely into focus last year after several national players missed out on selection due to them failing one of the two metrics.Sisanda Magala - included in Walter's ODI and T20 squads for the upcoming home series against Australia on Monday - and recently retired former Proteas women's skipper Dane van Niekerk fell foul of the two-kilometre trial, while Lizelle Lee called it quits in protest over being denied a non-objection certificate to play in T20 leagues on the basis of being overweight.
To his credit, Magala eventually passed his test and proved to be one of the Proteas' key bowlers in white-ball play last season. T20 squad Aiden Markram (captain), Temba Bavuma, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams, Rassie van der DussenODI squadTemba Bavuma (captain), Dewald Brevis, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav