South African cricket has announced an 18-man preliminary Proteas squad for the upcoming Test series against Australia, with uncapped batter Marques Ackerman earning his maiden call-up. Ackerman's impressive form for South Africa A, where he has scored over 1,000 runs in his last 10 red-ball appearances at an average of 82.92, caught the selectors' attention. His performances included four hundreds and a career-best 256 against Bangladesh A in August.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who has been recovering from a right hamstring injury, has also been included in the provisional squad. His inclusion is a boost to the team, but fellow seamers Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka, and Lungi Ngidi were not considered for selection due to their ongoing rehabilitation from hamstring injuries. The squad also sees the return of fast bowlers Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje, and Dane Paterson to the Test setup.
The preliminary squad will assemble on Thursday, eight days before the start of the first Test in Durban on 10 October, for a training camp that includes a two-day intra-squad match and scenario-based training. This will allow the team to assess combinations and determine the best-suited players for the conditions. Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad expressed his excitement about the squad, highlighting the flexibility provided by the larger bowling group.
Conrad emphasized the importance of giving Kagiso Rabada every chance to be available for selection for the first Test, with the two-day game providing a clearer picture of his match readiness. The coach also praised Ackerman's performances with South Africa A, both as captain and with the bat, which earned him the opportunity to join the Test squad.
The batting lineup for the series appears to be sticking with its core group, with Temba Bavuma set to captain the side. Ackerman's inclusion adds depth to the batting, and he will look to make an impact in the Test environment. The team's core group has been retained, with Aiden Markram, David Bedingham, and Ryan Rickelton among those included in the preliminary squad.
The final squad of 15 players will be announced after the training camp, with Conrad and his team assessing the players' performances and determining the best combinations for the series. The Proteas will be looking to make an impact against Australia, with the first Test set to get underway on 10 October in Durban.
The 18-man preliminary Proteas Test squad includes Temba Bavuma, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreynne.
Key points
- Marques Ackerman earns maiden Test call-up following impressive form for South Africa A
- Kagiso Rabada included in provisional squad as he continues recovery from hamstring injury
- Proteas to assess team combinations during training camp ahead of first Test against Australia
