Proteas captain Temba Bavuma has confirmed South Africa’s playing XI for the opening Test against Australia at Kingsmead in Durban, with Anrich Nortje returning to the side, Kagiso Rabada missing out, and both Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer selected.
South Africa have opted for a bowling attack featuring Nortje and Marco Jansen alongside the two specialist spinners, while Wiaan Mulder provides an additional seam-bowling option.
David Bedingham will bat at No.3, with Bavuma at No.4 and Tristan Stubbs at No.5.
The selection also means South Africa will begin their first home Test since becoming World Test Champions without Rabada, although Bavuma is hopeful the fast bowler will be available for the second match of the series.
Proteas XI for the first Test against Australia
- Aiden Markram
- Ryan Rickelton
- David Bedingham
- Temba Bavuma (captain)
- Tristan Stubbs
- Wiaan Mulder
- Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper)
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Simon Harmer
- Anrich Nortje
Rabada given more time to recover
Rabada’s absence is one of the biggest talking points ahead of the Test, particularly given his importance to South Africa’s bowling attack.
Bavuma admitted that leaving him out was a difficult decision, but explained that the Proteas had chosen to take a cautious approach to his recovery.
“Yeah it’s not an easy one. I think we did go the conservative route, give him a couple of extra days to get as close as he can be to 100% fitness.”
The Proteas captain remains confident that Rabada will return once the medical team is satisfied with his recovery.
“Yeah, look, we’re confident in our medical team to get him to the place where we need him to be.
“They haven’t officially handed over, if I could put it that way, so he’s under their control.
“Obviously for us, as soon as he gets the green light, you know, we expect him to be within that starting lineup, you know, so giving him a couple of days until I guess the second Test, but yeah, he’s in the hands of the medical team.”
Nortje’s pace gives Proteas an X-factor
With Rabada unavailable, Nortje has been handed an opportunity to return to Test cricket.
The fast bowler has spent considerable time away from the format, but Bavuma believes his pace and ability to unsettle batters make him a valuable addition to the side.
“Yeah, look, I mean, a guy like Anrich, hard to ignore, he’s x-factor.
“There’s not many guys around who are bowling 150 plus and I think as a batter, you know, that’s not something that I would look forward to, you know.
“He fits in very well into our approach from a bowling point of view with regards to the fast bowlers.”
Nortje’s recent lack of competitive red-ball cricket was considered, but Bavuma believes the work he has done behind the scenes has prepared him for the opportunity.
“Look as well, as much as he doesn’t have the weight of, I guess, overs under his belt of bowling with the Red Ball, 4-day cricket, he has been doing work with the bowling coaches.
“I think the time that we’ve had here as well, you know, he’s been very impressive in the nets.
“So, you know, I think it was a calculated call to give Anrich Nortje a go.”
Asked how Nortje’s workload would be managed during the series, Bavuma said his immediate focus was on winning the opening Test.
“We haven’t got that far to be honest with you. I think for me, the focus is on this game.
“We want to put out the best team to be competitive in this game and obviously to win it.”
Maharaj and Harmer add another dimension
The decision to select both Maharaj and Harmer provides South Africa with two frontline spin options at Kingsmead.
While South Africa have traditionally built their bowling attacks around fast bowling, Bavuma believes the two spinners have made the Proteas more versatile.
“Yeah, look, I mean, those two spin twins, if I could call them, I think they’ve added another dimension to our bowling attack as much as we’ve always been about the fast bowling.
“But when conditions have allowed for spinners to come into the game or the slow bowlers, they’ve been able to play an effective role.”
Bavuma expects the surface to offer greater assistance to spin as the match progresses rather than necessarily from the opening day.
“I think probably as the game goes by. Ordinarily, that’s how Durban has gone about it.
“I mean, I think of the last year when we played Sri Lanka, the seamers were very happy as to how the conditions were playing.
“And then, look, it didn’t really go further into day four, day five of the game. So spinners weren’t really effective.
“But generally, the latter part of the match, the spinners come into play.”
The captain is confident that Maharaj and Harmer can create pressure if conditions become favourable.
“So again, if the conditions play that way, we’ve got two guys that I’m confident in, that the whole team is confident in, that they can put the other opposition under pressure.
“I think there’s a healthy competition between them, so that always helps.
“But yeah, they’ve added a strong dimension to our bowling attack.”
Mulder’s batting earns him the No.6 position
Wiaan Mulder has been selected at No.6, with Bavuma revealing that his batting ability was the biggest factor behind the decision.
“I think it’s probably the batting. Wiaan gives you a little bit more with the bat.
“I think in that position, six, seven, you need someone that can score big runs.”
Bavuma believes Mulder has demonstrated that ability and can make an important contribution in the middle order.
“Wiaan has shown he can do that. The opportunity is there.
“And I think with the new ball as well, in terms of the role that we see him playing, we believe that he can be effective in that.
“He’s a good slip catcher as well. So I think that also counts in his favour.
“But yeah, probably the overriding factor was his ability with the bat.”
Mulder’s selection also gives South Africa another seam-bowling option, providing flexibility alongside Jansen, Nortje, Maharaj and Harmer.
Bavuma embraces the nerves ahead of Test return
For Bavuma personally, the opening Test represents another opportunity to return to international cricket after a period without regular game time.
He admitted that some uncertainty remains around his own batting, but believes experience and preparation will help him manage those emotions.
“Yeah, I think similar to the ODI stuff, I think that anxiety, the nerves that come with that, I think that’s something that I’ll have to deal with.
“As I did into the ODI series, having not played for months on end, I guess not really know what you’re going to expect.
“You obviously want to do well. You want to make big plays for the team.”
However, the captain feels more comfortable when concentrating on his leadership responsibilities.
“But then from a leader point of view, I think that’s where really I find a lot more comfort in leading the team towards what it is that we want to achieve.
“Continually trying to inspire guys to go a certain way.
“But I think, yeah, with the bat, like any player really, we’ll just have to deal with whatever noise is in our heads and just trust that the preparation that we’ve done, I guess the years of being at this level, that will come through.”
World Test Champions return home
The opening Test also carries added significance for South Africa as they prepare to play Test cricket on home soil for the first time since winning the World Test Championship.
Bavuma hopes supporters in Durban will turn out to celebrate that achievement with the team.
“I think that’s part of the excitement, right?
“I think I’ve said this a number of times, it’s our first time playing Test cricket since we’re the WTC champions here at home.
“So I mean, we’d like to, I guess, celebrate that moment with our local fans.
“Hopefully, the people in Durban come out in support tomorrow.”
Australia will provide a significant challenge, but the Proteas enter the contest with a bowling combination designed to offer both pace and spin.
With Nortje’s express pace, Jansen’s seam bowling, Mulder’s all-round ability and the spin combination of Maharaj and Harmer, South Africa have selected an attack capable of providing different threats as conditions change.
For Bavuma, however, the immediate objective is straightforward: begin the home Test summer with a victory against Australia.
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