Proteas coach Shukri Conrad has gone searching for genuine pace and has included Anrich Nortje in his 18-player preliminary squad named on Monday for the first Test against Australia at Kingsmead.
Conrad has also named Kagiso Rabada in the squad, although it remains unclear whether the Proteas’ pace spearhead will be fit to take his place after suffering a hamstring injury last month.
The enlarged squad also includes seamers Gerald Coetzee and Dane Paterson.
But it is Nortje’s return that will attract the most attention. The 32-year-old has not played Test cricket since Conrad’s first series as red-ball coach against the West Indies back in February 2023. It was also his last first-class match, with Nortje focusing solely on T20s since.
“We’ve selected a preliminary squad because we have an extended build-up to the first Test, with the group getting together in Durban on 1 October,” Conrad said.
“We’ll have a couple of training days, a two-day intra-squad match and scenario-based training, which will give us an opportunity to assess the group and conditions before settling on our final 15.
“Having a larger bowling group gives us the flexibility to cover all bases. We have different options across the squad and the next week will give us an opportunity to determine which combinations are best suited to the conditions.
“We also want to give Kagiso every chance of being available for selection for the first Test, and the two-day game will give us a clearer picture of where he is in terms of his match readiness.”
With Kagiso Rabada’s fitness still uncertain and Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka, and Lungi Ngidi all sidelined by hamstring injuries, South Africa’s fast-bowling stocks have been stretched thin through the recent ODI series.
Uncapped Dolphins batter Marques Ackerman also earns his maiden Test call-up after a red-hot run for South Africa A. The 30-year-old has scored more than 1,000 runs in his last 10 first-class appearances for the side at an average of 82.92, including four centuries and a career-best 256 against Bangladesh A in August.
“On the batting front, we’ve stuck with our core group. It’s great to have Marques in the squad,” Conrad said. “The way he has led the SA ‘A’ side, both as captain and through his performances with the bat, has earned him this opportunity. We’re looking forward to having him in the Test environment.”
Preliminary Proteas Men’s Squad – 1st Test against Australia, October 9-13 at Kingsmead:
Temba Bavuma (captain), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne.
