Shukri Conrad has opened up on the decisions facing the Proteas ahead of their Test series against Australia, with South Africa assessing several bowling combinations while Kagiso Rabada races to prove his fitness for the first Test.
The Proteas have named an extended 18-player preliminary squad for the opening Test at Kingsmead, with Anrich Nortje returning to the Test setup, Marques Ackerman receiving his maiden call-up and Rabada included despite continuing his recovery from a hamstring injury.
For Conrad, the extended preparation period before the first Test will be important in determining exactly what South Africa’s final combination looks like.
Nortje back in the Test picture
One of the most interesting selections is the return of Nortje, who has not played first-class cricket since his last Test appearance.
Conrad revealed that discussions with the fast bowler have been ongoing and that Nortje had previously indicated that he still wanted to be available across formats.
“I didn’t have to say much. Again, Anna and I have been in conversation for a while. He indicated as early as in the T20 World Cup that he’d still want to be available for all formats and just how we were going to monitor and all of that.
“So just thought it’s a great opportunity to get Anna involved as early as possible, being able to assess exactly where he is.
“And then, yeah, just great to have someone of his calibre and pace, more importantly, available to us. So yeah, we’ll see how that goes. We’ll monitor him for the week and then make decisions based on that going forward.”
Conrad is comfortable with the physical work Nortje has done away from competitive first-class cricket but said the Proteas still need to determine whether a Test is the right way to bring him back into international cricket.
“Obviously, Anna is as pedantic and as professional as they come. I’ve got spreadsheets detailing all of that that he keeps and details exactly all of the work that he’s done.
“Obviously, the loads and then the intensity at which international cricket is played, that we’ve got to measure up against those loads.
“So I’m very comfortable that he’s done all the necessary work. We’ve just got to look at the intensity that all of that’s happened at.
“But again, we’ve got a long summer of Test matches and ODIs and we’ve got to just look at whether a Test match is the best introduction back into the international fold or maybe earmark something else.”
Proteas won’t rush Rabada
Rabada’s availability remains another major question.
The fast bowler is recovering from a right hamstring injury and is expected to be assessed during South Africa’s preparation period, which includes a two-day intra-squad match.
Conrad stressed that South Africa will give Rabada as much time as possible without allowing the importance of the series to force them into a desperate decision.
“How do we judge? I mean, there’s some clever people around a lot smarter than I am when it comes to science and data and all the rest of it. So obviously, we will take all of those things into account, how he’s feeling, whether he’s uninjured, which is the starting point.
“But also, will he be able to match the intensity that’s required of a Test match? So we’ll give it as much time as humanly possible. But we also don’t ever want to make a call based on desperation. So we’ll be, again, smart about it.
“That two-day match will give us a lot in terms of where everybody’s at.”
Conrad expects South Africa to have a clearer answer shortly after the two-day match.
Could Harmer and Maharaj play together?
Australia’s struggles against spin during the ODI series have inevitably raised the possibility of South Africa fielding both Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj in the first Test.
Conrad isn’t ruling it out.
“Everything’s a possibility. Like I said, and that’s why we extended the squad. We obviously need to look at conditions and everything’s based around that, obviously the fitness of guys.
“And based on whatever the conditions are going to throw up, obviously the weather, what that’s like leading into the Test match.
“And if the two of them are two of the best four or five bowlers that we feel could win us the Test match, then I’m not going to rule that out.”
However, Conrad made it clear that South Africa will not instruct the Kingsmead ground staff to prepare a surface specifically designed for spin.
“I never tell or instruct ground staff to make wickets a certain way. We’re just covering all our bases, really. And I’m not skirting the answer.
“The answer is yes. If we feel that that’s a route we can go, then it’s certainly a route we will go.”
He also cautioned against drawing too many conclusions from Australia’s ODI performances, pointing out that their Test batting personnel will be different.
Ackerman ‘knocking the door down’
Marques Ackerman’s maiden Test call-up comes after an impressive run for South Africa A, and Conrad believes the batter has forced his way into the conversation.
“Marques has been knocking the door down. And I’m thrilled for him, you know.
“Again, Marques and I go back a long way. Academy days, and again, I was on that A tour when they were in the UK, and we had some really good conversations, and he fully understands.
“The good thing is that we’ve got guys in the system, really putting guys in possession under pressure now, which is ideally what you want, you know. Really happy for guys like Marques and the one or two others that have been exerting a lot of pressure.”
But Conrad also stressed that there remains loyalty towards the group that has delivered results for South Africa.
“But there’s also a large sense of loyalty to a side that has been successful, and I choose to go that route initially. But again, you know, there’s a long summer ahead of us, and lots can happen.”
Bedingham an option at No.3
David Bedingham’s recent move to No.3 for the Cobras has also created another option for the Proteas.
Conrad confirmed that he has previously discussed the position with Bedingham, although he did not instruct him to bat there domestically.
“I certainly haven’t insisted that he batted three, but I see him as the type of player that could do that job. Whether he’s actually going to end up doing that job is an entirely different story.”
Conrad believes Bedingham’s natural approach could be particularly useful against Australia’s pace attack.
“I think the way David plays, you look at that pace attack of Australia, you go back to the final at Lord’s, the first innings when that first day we were tentative and we just sat in on it.
“And then as soon as we made a conscious decision to not just sit on them, they were slightly, yeah, we were able to put them under pressure. And I think David naturally bats that way.
“So it’s an option. I think at the minute, we’ve got quite a few options. I’m not going to pencil it in nor am I going to rule it out.
“But he certainly does give us that option, yes.”
Conrad also indicated that Bedingham and Tristan Stubbs are strongly placed to feature in the starting XI, with both potentially able to bat at No.3 or No.5. Wiaan Mulder provides another option depending on the balance of the side and the bowling attack South Africa selects.
“I’ll be very surprised if Tristan Stubbs doesn’t make the starting lineup. So where does he bat? Three or five. I’ll be very surprised if Bedingham doesn’t make the starting lineup.
“Where does he bat? Three or five. Wiaan Mulder, based on the conditions, depending on what sort of attack we put out, he also gives us that option. So too early to tell, but we’ve got options.”
‘It’s a bit of a crisis’
South Africa’s recent run of hamstring injuries remains a concern for Conrad.
Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi were not considered for selection for the preliminary Test squad as they continue their rehabilitation, while Rabada is still recovering.
Conrad didn’t attempt to offer a medical explanation for the number of injuries but acknowledged the seriousness of the situation.
“Yeah, obviously concerned.
“As to the causes, I can give you a link to an article that Telford Vice wrote, and I think that’ll probably explain a hell of a lot of it.
“It’s concerning. It’s a bit of a crisis, and we need to get things right.
“I’ve been at the heart of a lot of conversations, and we are hell-bent on making sure that we don’t go through this sort of thing again.
“And yeah, further than that, I’m sorry, Kanyiso, but I don’t know enough about the actual causes. I’m only interested in solutions now, and I think we’re well on our way to establishing that.”
Focus firmly on beating Australia
Despite the history between South Africa and Australia, Conrad doesn’t want the Proteas distracted by what happened during Australia’s controversial 2018 tour.
Sandpapergate has not been a topic of discussion within the South African camp.
“Certainly not something that I’ve spent time on chatting in any of our team meetings.
“No, we’ve got to work on how we can win Test matches.
“We are hell-bent on finding ways of beating them with our skills. If anything comes up, I think we’re the type of team that we prepare for any eventuality, but it’s certainly not uppermost in our mind now, I don’t think.
“I think both our and their players, we just want to get on with it and make it a hell of a series and hopefully a successful one for us.”
South Africa begin the three-match Test series against Australia at Kingsmead in Durban on 9 October.
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