South Africa’s main white-ball captains, Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma, will return to lead the T20I and ODI teams during next month’s tour of Australia. Markram took a break from South Africa’s Test and T20I matches in Zimbabwe, while Bavuma missed the Tests due to a hamstring injury he got at the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June. Both captains will have mostly strong squads to choose from.
It’s important to note that this squad was announced just a week before Patrick Moroney, the new selector convenor, starts on August 1. This means it was the last team that Shukri Conrad picked on his own.
“It’s fantastic to have our senior players back after their rest following the WTC Final,” Conrad said in a statement. “Their experience and skill really enhance our group as we work on building a solid core in both formats. Each series from now on helps shape our teams for next year’s T20 World Cup and the 50-over World Cup at home in 2027.”
Among South Africa’s regular players, Marco Jansen and David Miller are not included. Jansen is healing from thumb surgery after an injury he sustained at the WTC final, while Miller will be participating in The Hundred tournament. He is expected to rejoin South Africa’s white-ball tour of England in September.
The rest of South Africa’s top bowlers are included, with Kagiso Rabada leading the fast bowlers and Keshav Maharaj heading up the spin attack. However, Maharaj is not part of the T20I team.
Instead, left-arm spinners George Linde and Senuran Muthusamy, who are currently in Zimbabwe, will join legspinner Nqaba Peter to play in the T20Is as South Africa explores their choices for next year’s T20 World Cup. Tabraiz Shamsi, who turned down a national contract last year, is not part of either team. Before the Zimbabwe series, Conrad mentioned that he would talk to Shamsi about his future.
“Unfortunately, I lost track of time and couldn’t have that conversation,” he said. “The spinners we chose have the best chance.”
In South Africa’s T20I squad, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs return to the batting lineup, while Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis remain on the team and are also in Zimbabwe. The group of seamers includes Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Corbin Bosch, and Kwena Maphaka, but Gerald Coetzee is not part of the selection.
“There are only a limited number of changes you can make to your team for balance,” Conrad stated. “The players chosen are ranked higher than Gerald. For the 50-over squad, I wanted to include as many allrounders as possible. We can’t overlook what Corbin Bosch has accomplished. Gerald is behind him in the lineup.”
The batting order for the ODI squad includes the four players mentioned above, along with Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi. Wiaan Mulder offers an all-round option in Jansen’s absence. Even though Rassie van der Dussen, who holds South Africa’s second-highest ODI average, is not part of the ODI squad, Conrad acknowledged that he is “very much in consideration for the T20 World Cup.”
“He provides flexibility by batting at the top or No. 3 and plays a strong leadership role. With the 50-over team, since I have time before 2027, I can give new players a chance and see how they grow.”
T20I Squad Aiden Markram (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Rassie van der Dussen.
ODI Squad Temba Bavuma (capt), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen.
