'I'm looking forward to just try and give my best' - Neil Brand reflects on leading South Africa ahead of New Zealand series

South Africa is all set to kick off their two-game Test series against New Zealand. Both sides will face off in the first Test on February 4 at the Bay Oval, and ahead of the series, leading an almost unrecognizable uncapped Proteas XI will be 27-year-old Neil Brand.

The decision by Brand to lead the side came after the majority of the star players will be occupied with the ongoing SA20 2024 and the Test squad against New Zealand will be filled with uncapped individuals.

Speaking of leading the side, Brand came forward to reflect on how excited he was to lead the Proteas and that he would look to give his best shot at leading the side against New Zealand.

"In the first few weeks [of the season] playing for the Titans, you just want to carry on doing well and hopefully get into contention for a place in the Test side but, as you say, going over to New Zealand and making your debut and being captain is quite interesting. It's something that's quite rare and something that I'm looking forward to and try and just kind of try and give my best," Brand was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. 

I didn't tell anyone till it came out in the news: Brand

Furthermore, Brand also reflected on how it was head coach Shukri Conrad who broke the news to him that he would be leading the side for the New Zealand tour. He also revealed that he did not reveal the news to anyone until it came out in the news.

"So we had that A series tour against the West Indies and Shuks [Shukri Conrad, head coach] spoke to me on the A series and said, 'look this is probably going to be the team that goes to New Zealand'... And then I think it was the morning on the first day in Cape Town and he called me and said, 'listen, you are in the team for New Zealand and you are also going to be captain!' Typical Shuks, he is pretty laid back. I didn't tell anyone till it came out in the news,” Brand said.