South Africa have announced their squads for the white-ball tours of Australia next month. The series will see Aiden Markaram and Temba Bavuma return to lead the T20I and ODI sides, respectively, after staying away from the side for their respective reasons. Markaram last captained in a T20I in November last year against India, after which he sat out the recent series against Zimbabwe and Pakistan.
Bavuma, on the other hand, didn’t miss any ODI games for South Africa, but he returns from the hamstring injury he picked up during the World Test Championship (WTC) Final at Lord’s.
Along with the captains, many senior players, who were allowed a breather after the WTC Final, return to the squad as well. The announcement comes ahead of incoming selector Patrick Moroney, who will link up with the side on August 1. This means this is the last squad selected independently by South Africa’s all-format coach, Shukri Conrad.
“It’s great to have our senior players back in the mix after their rest following the WTC Final,” Conrad said in a statement. “Their experience and quality add real value to the group as we continue to build a strong core in both formats. Every series from here on plays a part in shaping our squads for next year’s T20 World Cup and the 50-over World Cup at home in 2027.”
Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs return to the T20I side to join the youngsters currently involved in the Zimbabwe Tri-series, including Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis.
Among the pace options, Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Corbin Bosch, and teenager Kwena Maphaka will shoulder the responsibility along with Kagiso Rabada, in the absence of the injured Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee, who has been left out of the squad. Jansen is currently recovering from thumb surgery after injuring it during the WTC Final.
“There are only so many quicks you can put in your team in terms of balance,” Conrad explained. “The players who have been selected are ahead of Gerald in the pecking order. In the 50-over squad, I wanted to try and get as many all-rounders in the squad. You cannot ignore what Corbin Bosch has done. Gerald sits behind him.”
Besides him, David Miller is the other notable absence, as he remains in England for his The Hundred commitments.
The spin attack for the T20Is is also laced with youngsters, as both Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi remain out of the mix. While Maharaj will play the ODIs, he has decided to opt out of the shortest-format games.
Notably, Rassie van der Dussen, despite having South Africa’s second-highest ODI average, has not been included in the 50-over squad. Conrad indicated that van der Dussen remains part of their T20 World Cup plans.
“He gives you the option of batting at the top and at No. 3, and he is great in a leadership role,” Conrad said. “With the 50-over [team], because I’ve got time before 2027, it gives me the opportunity to blood new players and see how they develop.”
T20I squad:
Aiden Markram (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Rassie van der Dussen
ODI squad:
Temba Bavuma (capt), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen
