Kagiso Rabada included in Proteas squad for World Test Championship final

Proteas Men’s head coach Shukri Conrad announced the 15-player squad for the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia on Tuesday, taking place from June 11-15 at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London.

Temba Bavuma will lead the side, with the pace attack spearheaded by Kagiso Rabada, World Sports Betting Western Province’s Dane Paterson and Lungi Ngidi, who returns to the Test fold for the first time since October 2024.

Spearhead Kagiso Rabada was included in the team after serving a drugs ban and is expected to lead the attack against the mighty Australian batting line-up.

The bowling unit is bolstered by all-rounders Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Momentum Multiply Titans’ Corbin Bosch. The squad also features two frontline spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy.

There is a strong feel and overall balance to the top-order where batters Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and David Bedingham all feature, while one of the key players in helping the Proteas reach the final, Kyle Verreynne, is named as wicketkeeper.

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“Firstly, I want to congratulate each of the players selected for this squad. It is a special moment for this group to contest the WTC Final. Over the past 18 months, we’ve worked hard to build a competitive red-ball unit, and this achievement reflects that progress,” said Conrad. 

“A key part of our success has been consistency in selection, and we’ve stuck with the core group of players who have been part of this WTC cycle. We’ve selected a balanced squad for the conditions we expect at Lord’s.

“I’m particularly pleased to welcome Lungi back in the side. He’s put in the work and offers us an experienced option with the ball.”

The squad will assemble in Arundel on 31 May and will play a warm-up match against Zimbabwe from June 3–6, before heading to London on June 7.

South Africa squad for ICC WTC final v Australia

Players: Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), David Bedingham (World Sports Betting Western Province), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (World Sports Betting Western Province), Marco Jansen (Renault North West Dragons), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Dafabet Warriors), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Dane Paterson (World Sports Betting Western Province), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Dafabet Warriors), and Kyle Verreynne (World Sports Betting Western Province).

Management: Shukri Conrad (Head Coach), Khomotso Volvo Masubelele (Team Manager), Ashwell Prince (Batting Coach), Piet Botha (Bowling Coach), Kruger van Wyk (Fielding Coach), Runeshan Moodley (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Matthew Reuben (Performance Analyst), Sizwe Hadebe (Physiotherapist), Dr Konrad von Hagen (Team Doctor), Kyle Botha (Logistics and Masseur), Lucy Davey (Media Manager) and Brian Khonto (Security Officer)