Amidst the ongoing India vs South Africa Test series, Cricket South Africa has announced South Africa’s Test squad for the upcoming New Zealand starting next month. Titans batsman Neil Brand will be captaining the side against the Kiwis whereas Keegan Petersen and David Bedingham, who are part of the SA vs IND Test series will also tour New Zealand.
The two-match Test series is all set to start on February 4 at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Neil Brand led the South Africa A side against West Indies A and helped his team win three three-match ODI series. Apart from Keegan Petersen and David Bedingham, Zubayr Hamza has also been named in South Africa’s Test squad against New Zealand.
The squad misses the likes of Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Aiden Markram, and Test team captain Temba Bavuma. Khaya Zondo has been added to the side, whose experience might help the team win against New Zealand.
South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad congratulated the players who have been selected for the first time in the South African Test side. Conrad added that it is an honor for every player to play for their country.
Shukri Conrad said, “Firstly I would like to congratulate the players that will be going on a Proteas tour for the first time. It is a real honour to represent your country, so they should savour the moment. The players picked for this tour have every chance of challenging New Zealand and we have full confidence they will do exactly that when we arrive for the first Test match at Mount Maunganui.”
“Most of these guys participated in the recent ‘A’ series against West Indies where they showed that they have what it takes against players of international calibre. That experience will no doubt leave them in a better position for what we expect to be a testing series in New Zealand.”
Notably, there are six uncapped players in the squad because the main players will be taking part in SA20 2024 as the competition clashes with the Test series.
South Africa’s Test squad against New Zealand
Squad: Neil Brand (captain), David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg and Khaya Zondo.
The Proteas are currently playing against India in the two-match Test series and won the first match in Centurion by an innings and 32 runs. The South African team will play the second match at the Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town from January 3.
South Africa will be led by opener Dean Elgar, who is playing his last Test series against India. Elgar smashed 185 runs during the first Test of the two-match series and wrote the script of South Africa’s dominant win.
Though, the players selected for New Zealand were part of the ‘A’ tour against West Indies, and all the players have a good experience playing first-class cricket. The South African team is going through a rehabilitation phase and it will be a brilliant series against New Zealand to test out new players.
The post NZ vs SA: South Africa Squad For New Zealand Tests Announced; Uncapped Player Named Captain appeared first on CricketAddictor.
Amidst the ongoing India vs South Africa Test series, Cricket South Africa has announced South Africa’s Test squad for the upcoming New Zealand starting next month. Titans batsman Neil Brand will be captaining the side against the Kiwis whereas Keegan Petersen and David Bedingham, who are part of the SA vs IND Test series will
The post NZ vs SA: South Africa Squad For New Zealand Tests Announced; Uncapped Player Named Captain appeared first on CricketAddictor.
