Cricket Southafrica (CSA) have announced their squad for the first two tests of the upcoming four-match test series versus Australia.
Selectors have gone for wicketkeeper-batsman Heinrich Klaasen and allrounder Wiaan Mulder for the squad against a very strong side who recently smashed the English side in the Ashes at home.
Allrounders Chris Morris and Andile Phehlukwayo, and fast bowler Duanne Olivier were the players to miss out on selection, after having been part of the squad for the Tests against India.
Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers and Temba Bavuma, all of whom missed all or part of the ODI and T20I series against India due to injuries, were named in the Test squad. Dale Steyn, who was injured during the first Test against India, was not.
The South African national selection convener Linda Zondi was quoted as “Klaasen has been tremendously impressive in the white-ball matches he has played for the Proteas and we firmly believe he can become just as good a player in the five-day format,”.
“He has averaged nearly 50 with the bat in Sunfoil four-day cricket this season and hit two centuries. We are also keen to have a backup wicketkeeper to de Kock in the squad.”, Zondi further added.
Mulder averages 61.66 for team Lions in the domestic first-class season this year 370 runs in nine innings and has played one ODI for South Africa, against Bangladesh in October last year.
“The selection of Mulder continues our strategy to expand our pool of allrounders against top-quality opposition. He is a batting allrounder and his selection will depend on how we decide to balance our starting XI. He has been the top allrounder in the Sunfoil Series with a batting average of 60 (one century) and 15 wickets at an average of 28.” The convener of the selector said.
The series starts on March 1. Australia has never lost a test series in Southafrica since the rainbow nation”s readmission in 1992.
Squad :- Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Wiaan Mulder, Lungisani Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.