The Proteas are still mulling over the composition of their final XI ahead of the first Test against India at Eden Gardens on Friday.
It has been custom for the World Test Champions to name their team on the eve of the first day during coach Shukri Conrad’s reign, but captain Temba Bavuma was not ready to show his hand just yet.
“We haven’t finalised the team,” Bavuma said on Thursday. “It’s all those different, I guess, considerations. The ball does seem to swing here in Kolkata, probably a little bit more than what we are accustomed to playing in India.
“So, there’s obviously the consideration of the extra spinner, but obviously in the subcontinent as well, you want to make sure that you have the resources from a spin point of view.
“I don’t think too much changes from a batting point of view. You want to select your best six batters, however way we go. We’ll finalize it on the morning of the game.”
Despite being named Player of the Series in Pakistan, which earned the allrounder the ICC Player of the Month award for October, it is Senuran Muthusamy that is most likely be sacrificed should the Proteas opt to play the extra seamer.
There will certainly be one change to the side that beat Pakistan in Rawalpindi a fortnight ago – the Proteas first Test victory in Pakistan for 18 years – with Bavuma needing to be accommodated in the final XI.
The skipper missed the Pakistan tour with a calf injury, but has since fully recovered and was able to get a hit out for SA ‘A’ against their India counterparts last week. He felt it was crucial for his personal preparation as he was able to get a taste of the conditions.
“I think for me the biggest thing was getting back on the field, having come off a long day of test cricket, proving my fitness to myself and everyone around, and spending some time with the crease. I think that was important,” said Bavuma, who made a half-century in the second innings.
“Also trying to make whatever adjustments that I need to make with conditions here in the subcontinent. So yeah, I thought it was a good exercise.”
Bavuma will be hoping for better luck with the toss than his stand-in Aiden Markram on the Pakistan tour. Markram lost the toss in both Tests, which forced the Proteas to bowl first in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
“Met up with (New Zealand captain) Kane (Williamson) at an awards evening here in India a couple of months ago. I tried to ask him for some pointers.
“He wasn’t too open about it all. But he did say that, make sure that you win the toss, so I’ll be practising my coin tossing skills.
“But yeah, I think you’ve just got to play good cricket. I mean, it’s easy, but it’s hard when you come to India. You know the type of questions that they are going to ask from a bowling point of view, from a batting point of view. I believe our preparation is as good as it could have been.”
SQUADS FOR EDEN GARDENS
Proteas: Temba Bavuma (captain), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Zubayr Hamza, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
India: Shubman Gill (captain), Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper, vice-captain), Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Axar Patel, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Akash Deep.
Start: 6am; TV: SuperSport
