Image Credit- CSA
Only three players from South Africa’s haphazard squad that visited New Zealand in February—Danes Piedt, Dane Paterson, and David Bedingham—have been picked for their upcoming red-ball assignment, which is against the West Indies in August. While Paterson, 35, has been picked to offer experience in the absence of Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen, and Piedt, 34, to have a second spinner in addition to Keshav Maharaj, Bedingham is seen to be crucial to South Africa’s long-format batting future.
All the other players, save from batsman Matthew Breetzke, who has received his first Test call-up, were involved in South Africa’s home series against India earlier this year. Breetzke, who plays for Northants now, was on the South African A team that visited Sri Lanka the previous year. Since Dean Elgar recently announced his retirement from international cricket, he is anticipated to support a top five that most likely consists of Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, and Tristan Stubbs at bat.
After missing out on Test duty in the home series against the West Indies in March 2023, wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton has been called up and will face off against veteran gloveman Kyle Verreynne for the No. 6 place. Wiaan Mulder is the only seam-bowling all-round player in the team; he last participated in Test matches at home against the West Indies following Jansen’s tour-long layoff.
“The decision to rest Marco Jansen was taken to allow for a conditioning period aimed at ensuring optimal physical and mental well-being given the season-long workloads,” Test coach Shukri Conrad said in a statement.
Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi will front the pace attack; Nortje was not taken into consideration since he chose to forego a central contract this year in order to concentrate mainly on Twenty20 cricket. The other two alternatives for pace are left-armer Nandre Burger and Paterson.
Since losing to India in the New Year’s Test due to missing the New Zealand series and SA20 obligations, South Africa’s first-choice Test players have not played. Despite having just played four games, South Africa is currently in seventh place on the WTC points table after losing that series 2-0.
“This tour is extremely important for us as we aim to improve our standing in the ICC World Test Championship,” Conrad said. “We have, therefore, selected our strongest possible squad and look forward to strong performances in the Caribbean.”