Every player in the CA XI to face South Africa's Test squad in their opening tour match in Australia will be aged 22 or under.
Chosen by Cricket Australia's youth selection panel and captained by Victorian Bushrangers allrounder Matthew Short, the 12-man squad for the two-day match at Adelaide Oval on October 22-23 includes 10 players currently playing in the CA XI in the interstate one-day competition.
Among them are 17-year-old Queensland Bulls fast bowler Xavier Bartlett and in-form NSW Blues batsman Ryan Gibson.
Gibson has averaged over 50 with the bat in his first five one-day Cup matches, compiling a century against the Bulls, plus two half centuries.
"It's another step in stretching these young players to compete at a higher level and see how they fare," said CA's national talent manager Greg Chappell.
"We believe they have the capabilities to compete against the South Africans, and are excited to see what they produce."
Ben McDermott, who is currently with the Tasmanian Tigers squad in the one-day Cup, and WA spinner Kyle Gardiner are the two players included who are not in the CA XI one-day cup squad.
The CA XI match will be the first of two tour matches ahead of the Australia v South Africa Test series which begins on November 3 at the WACA.
CA XI to face South Africa: Arjun Nair (NSW), Josh Inglis (WA), Ryan Gibson (NSW), Sam Harper (Vic), Ben McDermott (Tas), Matthew Short (Vic, capt), James Bazley (Qld), Brendan Doggett (Qld), Ryan Lees (Tas), Xavier Bartlett (Qld), Thomas O'Donnell (Vic), Kyle Gardiner (WA). Coach: Greg Blewett.
