South Africa name seam-heavy XI a day before first Test against Bangladesh
South Africa have named their XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, which begins at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday.
Temba Bavuma captains the hosts, while Anrich Nortje misses out with a groin injury and Zubayr Hamza returns after a long absence.
Play starts at 2pm Bangladesh time at the ground known as the Bullring. The two-match series is part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle, and the second Test follows at SuperSport Park in Centurion from Monday.
Nortje’s injury opens the door for Dane Paterson, who joins Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen in the pace attack. Wiaan Mulder completes the seam options. Head coach Shukri Conrad expects Nortje to be fit for Centurion, though no firm return date has been set.
Simon Harmer is the only specialist spinner, in the absence of Keshav Maharaj. Corbin Bosch also misses out, and the reason for his omission has not been made public. The hosts have chosen a seam-heavy balance for the highveld.
Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman are set to open, with Hamza at number three. Bavuma follows at four, then Matthew Breetzke and wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton. Hamza earns his recall after scoring 78 and 68 for South Africa A against Bangladesh A earlier this year.
David Bedingham, who played all three Tests in the 2-1 series win over Australia in October, has been left out. Tony de Zorzi has recovered from injury and returns to the squad, but he is not in the XI. Conrad expects him to be available for Centurion.
Form is with the hosts. Jansen arrives as the world’s top-ranked Test bowler and was named ICC Men’s Player of the Month for October. Bavuma climbed to second in the Test batting rankings after a career-best 179 in Gqeberha.
Conrad has said Bangladesh now have a genuine pace attack and expects a competitive contest. Charl Langeveldt, who has previously coached Bangladesh, has joined the South Africa coaching group for the series, which adds an interesting twist to the build-up.
South Africa XI: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson.