Former Proteas batter Herschelle Gibbs has backed the inclusion of two spinners, as well as both Marques Ackerman and David Bedingham, in his preferred playing XI for the first Test against Australia at Kingsmead on Friday.
The 52-year-old, who scored 6,167 runs at 41.97 in 90 Tests for the Proteas, also believes Kagiso Rabada will be fit to take his place for the series opener. Rabada has been in a race against time after sustaining a hamstring injury last month.
He did, however, slot in all-rounder Corbin Bosch should Rabada not be passed fit in time.
Gibbs has pencilled in Dolphins captain Ackerman to make his Test debut at his home ground in the crucial No. 3 position, with Bedingham slipping down to No. 5.
Ackerman has been the form batter on the domestic circuit, while also piling on the runs for South Africa ‘A’, having recently struck a double century against Bangladesh ‘A’.
Meanwhile, Bedingham has not played Test cricket since the Zimbabwe tour immediately following the WTC Final at Lord’s back in July, having been overlooked for the subcontinent tours to Pakistan and India.
But the 32-year-old returned to form for Durham in the English County Championship, where he was the leading run-scorer in Division Two. He also scored twin centuries in his last first-class game for Western Province.
Gibbs also has wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne slotting at No. 6, with all-rounder Marco Jansen following at No. 7.
“Six specialist batters, what more do you want?” Gibbs posted on X. “Most all-rounders come in at 7, bru, and he’s not bad at all… give him license to play as he sees it is his best approach in Tests.”
The former opening batter was also adamant that the Proteas should include both left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer due to the expected conditions at Kingsmead.
“Harmer [is] too good a bowler to leave out,” Gibbs said. “The light fades quickly in Durbs; two spinners means you get more overs in, and it will turn.”
In a further big call, Gibbs has made a case for speedster Anrich Nortje to be recalled for his first Test in three years, with the belief that the “Uitenhage Express” can potentially be an X-factor.
HERSCHELLE GIBBS’ PREFERRED PROTEAS XI FOR THE FIRST TEST
Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada/Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje.
