A century by captain Dean Elgar helped the Proteas make a positive start to their tour to Australia with a strong performance on the opening day of their only warm-up match against a Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane starting on Friday.
After winning the toss and batting at The Allan Border Field, the South Africans reached the close on 335 for seven with the skipper leading from the front with his 109 (186 balls, 9 fours). There was also an attacking unbeaten half-century from Kyle Verreynne, who struck a free-flowing 76 off 86 balls (13 fours, 1 six).
There were starts from several other batters too, with 25 coming from the bat of Sarel Erwee, 27 by the fit again Rassie van der Dussen and 34 through Keshav Maharaj – the tourists ensuring they enjoyed a productive opening to the three-match Test tour in Queensland.
The match is not classified as a first-class game allowing for the Proteas management to give everyone in the squad a chance to play. Khaya Zondo (18), Theunis de Bruyn (13), Simon Harmer (5) and Kagiso Rabada (2*) were amongst the others to bat on day one.
Temba Bavuma, however, did not bat as a precaution due to discomfort felt in his left elbow. However, South Africa’s limited-overs captain is expected to bat in the second innings of the four-day encounter. The first Test of the series is scheduled to take place at The Gabba from 17-21 December.
Reactionary audio and video from Elgar is available to download here. Credit Cricket South Africa.
Proteas Test squad against Australia
Dean Elgar (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (DP World Lions), Gerald Coetzee (ITEC Knights), Theunis de Bruyn (Momentum Multiply Titans), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Dafabet Warriors), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Dafabet Warriors), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Rassie van der Dussen (DP World Lions), Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper, Six Gun Grill Western Province), Lizaad Williams (Momentum Multiply Titans), Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins).
South Africa Test Tour to Australia Itinerary
Four-day Tour Match
09 – 12 December
Cricket Australia XI vs South Africa – The Allan Border Field, Brisbane
Tests
17 – 21 December
Australia vs South Africa – The Gabba, Brisbane
26 – 30 December
Australia vs South Africa – MCG, Melbourne
04 – 08 January
Australia vs South Africa – SCG, Sydney
