Neil Brand (cricketer)

Neil Brand is a South African cricketer who is the current stand-in Captain of the South African National Cricket Team. He is a left-handed batsman and a left-arm orthodox bowler. He initially moved to King's College, Taunton, with a hope to qualify to play for the England cricket team, before returning to South Africa at the end of 2017.
Brand made his first-class debut for Cardiff MCCU against Glamorgan on 2 April 2015. He made his List A debut for Northerns in the 2017–18 CSA Provincial One-Day Challenge on 25 March 2018.
In September 2018, Brand was named in Northerns' squad for the 2018 Africa T20 Cup. He made his Twenty20 debut for Northerns in the 2018 Africa T20 Cup on 14 September 2018. In April 2021, he was named in Northerns' squad, ahead of the 2021–22 cricket season in South Africa.

International career

In November 2023, he was named as captain of South Africa A for the West Indies A tour of South Africa. He was named captain of South Africa on debut against New Zealand in February 2024 and became the 25th South African to take five wickets on Test debut. His 6/119 were the best figures for a captain on his debut Test, and for a South African spinner on his Test debut. He also claimed 2 wickets in the second innings.