In order to be ready for the two Tests that will come after, South Africa’s fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and captain of the One-Day Internationals, Temba Bavuma, have been rested from their white-ball series against India later this month. In the recently concluded ODI World Cup, Bavuma led South Africa to the semi-finals and is still designated as the team’s 50-over captain; however, T20 captain Aiden Markram will take over for him against India.
For the same reason, only Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi will participate in the first two Twenty20 Internationals. Then, from December 14 to 17, all five of Bavuma, Rabada, Coetzee, Jansen, and Ngidi will participate in a series of domestic first-class matches in order to get ready for the Tests. At a news conference, South Africa’s Test coach Shukri Conrad stated, “We agreed that the Test side is the priority.” “We are prioritising readiness for the Test matches given its the start of the World Test Championship (WTC).” Rob Walter, his equivalent in white-ball, concurred.
After playing the series against India to kick off their WTC campaign, South Africa will send a subpar team to New Zealand for two Test matches in February of the following year, with the majority of their first-choice players playing in the SA20.
In light of this, Durham’s native batter David Bedingham, who has played for the team on an ancestral visa despite abandoning his ambitions to represent England and lacking a SA20 contract, has been included to the playing group. Left-arm seamer Nandre Burger and batsman Tristan Stubbs, who led South Africa A in runs scored during their winter tour to Sri Lanka, are also expected to make their Test debuts. After being dropped last summer, seamer Lungi Ngidi and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne both return to the field. Heinrich Klaasen is not included in the Test team, but Conrad says it’s “not the end of the road” for him.
Anrich Nortje is not available in any format after suffering a lower back stress fracture that prevented him from competing in the World Cup. Nortje is under monthly observation and has not undergone any surgery. According to Cricket South Africa, he should be ready to play in February or March of the following year. The Delhi Capitals, his IPL team, have decided to keep him.
Ryan Rickelton, who was awarded a central contract earlier this year and participated in their most recent Test series, is also not included in either of the teams. Conrad clarified that he is now lower in the hierarchy. “The guys that have come in – Stubbs and Bedingham – are ahead of him,” Conrad stated. “As the wicketkeeper, I don’t think he challenges Kyle Verreynne. There was no information at the time (when Rickelton played) on David’s availability or desire to play for South Africa, and Stubbo has also demonstrated a great deal since then.”
Conrad is optimistic about his team’s overall performance and believes it “can beat India.” He is also focused on the remaining WTC matches, which will include away trips to Bangladesh, the West Indies, and New Zealand in 2019. “There may also be some adjustments on certain tours. Guys who can help us win those series under those circumstances will make a comeback. That’s the location of the global game. You must be somewhat ad hoc in your choices and make sure the men are presentable and ready for duty when called upon.”
The white-ball teams have adopted a same mindset, with South Africa focusing on rebuilding after the ODI competition and anticipating the T20 World Cup. With Quinton de Kock out of the T20Is to play in the BBL and retiring from the ODIs, Reeza Hendricks is anticipated to receive a longer run at the top of the order in both formats. In the T20Is, Matthew Breetzke will bat first with Hendricks. In the T20I group, Ottniel Baartman and Burger, both fast bowlers, are the only other uncapped players.
Because there is still a lot of franchise T20 cricket to be played, South Africa has advised against viewing this squad as a replica of the T20 World Cup playing group. They only have this three-match series against India left before they depart for the World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA next year, where they will play the West Indies immediately before the tournament.
“Given that some of our frontline bowlers are missing out and there are guys – let me throw it out there just to create some media hype – like Faf (du Plessis) and Rilee (Rossouw) as well as Quinny that could well be considered for a T20 World Cup and then also the SA20 that happens next year – 80% of the side picks itself but there is definitely a space for other guys to get themselves into the conversation,” Walter stated. “In terms of the World Cup, the SA20 competition will be crucial. It’s an exciting time for the guys who sit on the periphery, but the household guys will probably be there as well.”
At the conclusion of a World Cup cycle, it is assumed that the ODI squad will be the most experimental. Bowling all-arounder Mihlali Mpongwana, who will be a member of a youthful pace group, is the only new cap nominated by South Africa. Mpongwana was the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the domestic one-day cup and played in the most recent South Africa A series against West Indies A. While Rabada, Ngidi, and Jansen are rested, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, and Lizaad Williams (albeit contingent on the severity of a groin injury) will all have the opportunity to play. There is no room for Bjorn Fortuin in the spin attack, which is formed by Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj, who is included in all three squads.
Though they will also try to give Tony de Zorzi a chance, South Africa has remained with a pretty experienced batting lineup that includes Markram, Klaasen, Rassie van der Dussen (who did not receive a Test recall), and David Miller. Dewald Brevis, who finished third in the domestic one-day cup in terms of runs scored, is not among the selections. “The better the player that’s getting left out, the better our system is,” Walter stated. Not all of the young batters can always find a spot. He will undoubtedly return to the field.”
Other than their matches against India, South Africa’s ODI team has no other commitments this season. Their goal is to return to 50-over cricket prior to the next World Cup. Walter viewed the competition as a triumph for the squad as they advance toward a home World Cup in 2027 as they made it to the final four. “After the tournament, there was a really good vibe all around. Missing out in the final was disappointing and left a deep mark. However, I was proud of the way we played, and the teammates were too.”
Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa’s Twenty20 international team, is joined by Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee in the first and second T20Is; Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen in the first and second T20Is; Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi in the first and second T20Is; Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, and Lizaad Williams
South African ODI squad: David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams, Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Mihlali Mpongwana, and Heinrich Klaasen
Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Dean Elgar, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne are the members of the South Africa test team.
