South Africa on Wednesday announced the Test squad for their upcoming Pakistan series, as reported by ICC. Uncapped Corbin Bosch has been included in the Test squad. Bosch has an all-round prospect with a first-class batting average of over 40 and a bowling average of 36.75, and the up-and-coming pace bowler Kwena Maphaka, who excelled in the Men’s U19 World Cup earlier this year before making his T20I debut for the Proteas later. Maphaka was the highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with 21 scalps to his name.
Wiaan Mulder, who missed out on the second Sri Lanka Test earlier in the season, has also been included in the squad as he completes the final phase of his recovery from a fractured finger. If the all-rounder is selected for the first Test, batter Matthew Breetzke will be released from the squad. Spinner Keshav Maharaj, who incurred an acute groin strain in the leadup to the first ODI against Pakistan, is also in the squad but will undergo further tests.
South Africa’s red-ball coach, Shukri Conrad stated that his side was focused on securing a positive result with the World Test Championship Final in sight. At the moment South Africa leads the standings.
“We head into this series with a clear focus, with a spot in the World Test Championship Final being the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We’ve selected a squad which gives us the best chance to achieve that.
It’s an exciting time for South African cricket and we’re particularly looking forward to this battle against Pakistan. They always pose a strong threat with the talented fast bowlers they produce and I expect it to be no different this time around,” Shukri Conrad was quoted by ICC as saying. The two-match Test series will kick off on December 26 in Centurion. The second and final match of the series will be played in Cape Town from January 3.
South Africa Squad: Temba Bavuma (C), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne.
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