“We will give it [final decision on Rabada] as much time as humanly possible but we also don’t want to take a call based on desperation,” Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s head coach, said in a press conference on Monday. “Based on how the three-day match plays out, a day or two after that, I reckon we will make a call.”
“Anrich is as pedantic and professional as they come. He has got spreadsheets that detail all of the work that he has done. I’m very comfortable that he has done all the necessary work,” Conrad said. “We’ve just got to look at the intensity that it’s done in. We’ve got to look at whether a Test match is the best introduction back to the international fold.” Nortje hasn’t played for South Africa at all since March 1 this year.
Gerald Coetzee, who made an international comeback from injury in the first ODI against Australia last week, was picked after last playing a Test in November 2024. Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Dane Paterson, who was part of South Africa’s World Test Championship final squad, make up the rest of the pace pack.
“On the batting front, we’ve stuck with our core group,” Conrad said. “It’s great to have Marques in the squad. The way he has led the SA A side, both as captain and through his performances with the bat, has earned him this opportunity. We’re looking forward to having him in the Test environment.”
Also in the mix for a middle-order spot is David Bedingham, who scored twin hundreds for Western Province in the most recent round of domestic first-class matches. Dewald Brevis, who was in South Africa’s last Test squad that won in India, has not been included, with Conrad saying South Africa were looking at him as more of a subcontinent specialist in the longest format.
“It’s a long summer so I am sure we will see [Brevis] at some stage. The blunt answer is that I don’t think he is one of the best batters in Test cricket for us,” Conrad said. “I think there are other guys for us in South African conditions. Brevis is probably more suited to us playing in Test cricket in the subcontinent.
“ODI cricket is a different story. You will see him at some stage. In Tests, he is a bit of a Rafael Nadal. He is a clay-court specialist.”
Conrad was non-committal about who South Africa’s No. 3 would be.
“We have had a few guys do the No. 3 job for us. In India, we flip-flopped between Wiaan and Stubbo. I think it’s a global problem, No. 3,” Conrad said. “People, if they are to play a card, they do it at No. 3. We have to look at our bowling attack. Depending on the balance of the side, that will determine what our side will look like. I will be very surprised if Tristan Stubbs doesn’t the starting line-up.
“[Bedingham at No. 3] is a conversation we have had. I see him as the type of player who could do that job.”
South Africa have named three spinners: Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy, all of whom played a role in the last World Test Championship cycle. With early season conditions expected to take some turn, especially as the matches are all at coastal venues, South Africa could find room for two of the three in their XI.
“Everything is a possibility. That’s why we named an extended squad. If Harmer and Maharaj are two of the best five bowlers to win a Test then I am not going to rule that out,” Conrad said. “If your next question is whether I am going to ask the groundsman to tailor-make a wicket for a spinners, the answer is no.”
South Africa’s Test squad will assemble in Durban on October 1.
South Africa squad for Australia Tests
Temba Bavuma (capt), 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, Kyle Verreynne
Firdose Moonda is Cricinfo’s senior correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket
