Johannesburg, March 27 -- Proteas men's coach Shukri Conrad has been involved at every level of the game in South African cricket. From club and youth level through to academy, provincial, franchise and now international, Conrad has seen it and done it all.

The 58-year-old's assessment of SA20 would therefore be far from patriotic hyperbole, but instead carry plenty of gravitas.

"SA20 has been an unqualified success for us," Conrad said. "You only need to look at the numbers, the calibre of players," he said, according to a release.

The tangible proof has been taking the field under Conrad's watch in New Zealand, where a group of youthful Proteas have done battle against the Black Caps, runners-up at the recent ICC T20 World Cup.

The ...