TEMBA Bavuma has returned to the South Africa squad for the two-match Test series against India starting next month. The regular captain has recovered from a left calf strain which he suffered in an ODI against England last month.
Bavuma missed the World Test champions’ recent tour to Pakistan where the team won the second Test to level the series, thanks in large part to the spin troika of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy.
The trio have been included in the Test squad to face India but Prenelan Subrayen misses out in the 15-man squad. David Bedingham is the other player from the Pakistan tour who misses out.
The batting order has been bolstered by the return of Bavuma and now consists of Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Zubayr Hamza and Ryan Rickelton with Kyle Verreynne the designated wicketkeeper. The squad is rounded off with the pacers led by Kagiso Rabada with Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen the other fast bowlers available
Test squad against India:Temba Bavuma (c), 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.
Speaking on the selection, head coach Shukri Conrad revealed that the idea was to keep the bulk of the players who featured in Pakistan in the series which ended level between the two sides.
“We’ve kept the bulk of the squad that competed in the two-match series against Pakistan. Those players showed real character and fought hard to come from behind and draw that series. “We are anticipating a similar challenge in India, and many of the players who stood up in those conditions will once again be key for us, Conrad said.”
The first Test will be played from November 14 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata while the second Test will be hosted by the ACA Stadium in Guwahati from November 22. (Cricbuzz)