By Kevin Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
South Africa name 15-man squad as the newly crowned world number one Test side turns its attention to the next assignment.
The Proteas are riding high after a dramatic and hard-fought 2-1 Test series victory over Australia, but head coach Shukri Conrad has made it clear that there will be little time to bask in the glory.
South Africa have been rewarded for their remarkable comeback against the Australians by moving to the top of the ICC Test rankings. Now, with the prospect of a second successive World Test Championship final appearance firmly in their sights, the focus shifts to Bangladesh and a two-match Dafabet Test series on home soil later this month.
Captain Temba Bavuma, who led the Proteas to a memorable series triumph over Australia, will once again skipper the 15-man squad.
The first Test takes place at the DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg from 15–19 November, before the series moves to SuperSport Park in Centurion from 23–27 November.
There are some notable returns and exclusions to the squad.
Tony de Zorzi is back after recovering from the hamstring injury that kept him out of the Australia series, while DP World Lions batter Zubayr Hamza has also earned a place.
Anrich Nortje returns following a two-week spell on the sidelines with a groin injury, strengthening a pace attack that includes Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne was omitted from the squad. There was no place for Tristan Stubbs, or Senuran Muthusamy , whilst David Bedingham who averaged just over 32 against Australia, batting at number 3, was also not selected. Lungi Ngidi remains unavailable as he continues his rehabilitation.
The Australia series was a powerful demonstration of the character and resilience within the Proteas dressing room.
After suffering a 214-run defeat in Durban, South Africa responded emphatically in Gqeberha, recovering from 40 for four to beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs. They then overcame another difficult position in Cape Town, setting the visitors a target of 388 before completing a memorable victory.
It was an extraordinary turnaround, but Conrad believes there is still plenty of room for improvement.
Despite overseeing South Africa’s rise to the top of the Test rankings, the coach is not interested in celebrating their status or allowing his players to become complacent.
Conrad believes reaching the summit is one achievement; remaining there requires sustained consistency, hard work and a willingness to keep evolving.
His assessment of the Australia series was characteristically honest. The Proteas, he acknowledged, can be outstanding one moment and below their best the next. The challenge now is to ensure that the quality performances become the consistent standard.
The coach also pointed to the importance of confidence within the dressing room, highlighting the contributions of players such as Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder, whose centuries in Cape Town proved decisive in South Africa’s fightback.
Mulder, in particular, enjoyed a breakthrough series, scoring a century and claiming 10 wickets. His development into a genuine all-round option has been one of the positives of Conrad’s tenure.
The coach has also emphasised that selection decisions will continue to be driven by what is best for the team, rather than sentiment or loyalty. While consistency is important, he believes the side must remain adaptable and continue identifying areas where it can improve.
Despite the celebrations following the Australia victory, Conrad has already turned his attention to the next assignment.
Bangladesh arrive in South Africa with a challenge of their own, and the coach has warned against taking anything for granted. Their fast bowlers could be particularly effective on the traditionally pace-friendly Highveld surfaces, although the Wanderers has also offered assistance to spin in recent seasons.
The conditions will therefore play an important role in determining the final combination, with South Africa expected to place particular emphasis on their seam-bowling options.
The return of De Zorzi provides additional batting depth, while Hamza offers another option in the top order. The Proteas management will use the build-up to the first Test to assess the conditions and settle on the strongest possible XI.
The last time Bangladesh toured South Africa for a Test series, in 2022, the hosts secured a 2-0 victory. Conrad, however, knows that past results count for little when a new series begins. His message is simple: take the confidence from Australia, learn from the mistakes and prepare properly for the next challenge.
For the Proteas, the celebrations may be over, but the momentum is there. They have climbed to the top of the Test rankings and demonstrated that they have the character to fight back when the odds are against them.
Now comes the equally important task of proving that they belong there.
Proteas Squad:
Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Marques Ackerman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (YesPlay Cobras), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Anrich Nortje (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dane Paterson (YesPlay Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions).
Dafabet Test Series schedule
First Test: 15–19 November – DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Second Test: 23–27 November – SuperSport Park, Centurion.