Suspense crime, Digital Desk : South Africa's Test coach, Shukri Conrad, has made a bold declaration, anointing 18-year-old fast-bowling prodigy Kwena Maphaka as a potential future leader of the Proteas' pace attack. Speaking ahead of the upcoming Test series against Zimbabwe, Conrad expressed immense confidence in the young talent, suggesting he has the "x-factor" to become the team's next "main dog."The term "main dog" is Conrad's way of describing a premier, top-tier international bowler who can consistently lead the charge. While Kagiso Rabada is the undisputed current leader, Conrad believes Maphaka has all the tools to rise to that elite level. "He is a proper, proper international bowler," Conrad stated. "He's got massive potential... he can be that guy."This high praise comes after Maphaka, who is still in his final year of school, stunned the cricketing world by taking a record 21 wickets to be named the Player of the Tournament at the U19 World Cup earlier this year. His left-arm pace and natural swing have already drawn comparisons to a young Kagiso Rabada.The opportunity for Maphaka to be fast-tracked has emerged due to a transition in South Africa's pace battery. With established bowlers like Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee dealing with injuries, Conrad sees a chance to blood new talent. He emphasized that while they won't rush Maphaka's development carelessly, they also won't hold him back if he proves he is ready for the rigors of Test cricket."We saw what happened with Rabada when he started," Conrad recalled, pointing to another superstar who made his debut at a young age. "I have no doubt that Maphaka has the ability, the temperament and the smarts to be that next guy for us."While he may start as a supporting bowler in the upcoming series, all eyes will be on the teenage sensation to see the first glimpse of a player his coach believes could define South Africa's bowling for the next decade.
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