The composition of South Africa’s XI throughout the three-Test series against England will likely stay – more or less – the same throughout. Granted, there should be the odd change – subject to form, fitness and conditions – but largely fans and critics can expect the same core of batsmen and bowlers throughout.
South Africa have a 17-man Test squad in the United Kingdom and a look at their bench strength provides alternatives for the match XI, if a first-choice player isn’t necessarily selected for whatever reason.
Khaya Zondo is a solid middle-order option who could slot in at five or six in the order. He will be hard pressed to get in ahead of, say, Rassie van der Dussen. Khaya Zondo has put in strong performances at domestic level for several seasons and has batted for the Proteas at limited-overs level.
Aiden Markram, who is among the first picks for the ODI or T20I XI, might not find himself in the Test team. There is a lot of competition for places. He hasn’t done well as an opening batsman in Test cricket, and has had some struggles in the middle-order as well. It’s a pity that such an outstanding talent, who has played for the Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad in the Indian Premier League, is lower down the pecking order when it comes to first-class competition. All things considered, he remains a solid prospect at the T20 World Cup later this year, when the Proteas and other big T20 nations will feature among Sportland markets for this limited-overs showpiece.
Glenton Stuurman won’t likely find himself in the first-choice Test XI soon. He’s a solid back-up option, capable of bowling long and accurate spells, but he is certainly behind Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje in the pace collective. If South Africa opt for an all-pace attack instead of playing a specialist spinner, Stuurman could find himself in contention then.
Lutho Sipamla is in a similar proverbial boat to Stuurman. His time will come, perhaps in lesser Test series, but not for now. That said, with Duanne Olivier ruled out of the series due to injury, Sipamla is a step closer to Test selection again than he was previously.
It will be really interesting to see if Ryan Rickelton squeezes his way into the match XI for any of the three Tests. He scored plenty of runs for Northamptonshire in the County Championship, quickly getting used to conditions that will be similar during the Tests. He will either have to play ahead of Sarel Erwee at the top of the order or instead of Kyle Verreynne in the middle order, but then he’d need to be wicketkeeper as well in the absence of Verreynne.
How the Proteas XI will stack up for the duration of their Test series in England remains in the balance, but it’s going to need to be strong to beat Ben Stokes, Joe Root, James Anderson and company in their own back yard.
