South Africa Name Six Pacers for Bangladesh Tests as Series Opens at Wanderers

A tough test awaits Bangladesh's batters on South African soil. South Africa have named a 15-member squad with six pace bowlers for the two-match Test series.

The first Test of the series begins on November 15 at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. The second match will be played in Centurion on November 23.

South Africa's pace attack includes Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder.

Anrich Nortje has returned to the squad after recovering from injury. He missed the final match of the series against Australia with a groin injury. Tony de Zorzi, who missed the Australia series with a hamstring injury, has also returned.

David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Kyle Verreynne and Senuran Muthusamy have been dropped from the squad that played the most recent Test series against Australia. Lungi Ngidi was not considered as he has not fully recovered from a hamstring injury.

In batting, Zubayr Hamza has returned alongside de Zorzi. Hamza had not been picked for the Test side since 2024. Ryan Rickelton and Matthew Breetzke are the wicketkeepers in the squad, while Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer are the spin options.

Head coach Shukri Conrad said pitches in the Highveld region traditionally assist pace and bounce, although the Wanderers wicket has also offered some help to spinners in recent times. He said the side would place greater emphasis on its pace-bowling options after considering all factors.

Conrad also acknowledged the threat from Bangladesh's bowlers, saying they know about that threat and expect Bangladesh's pacers to be very effective in Highveld conditions.

Bangladesh last played a Test series in South Africa in 2022, when the hosts won 2-0. South Africa, who have just beaten Australia in a Test series to reach the top of the Test rankings, will look to maintain that run at home against Bangladesh.

South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Marques Ackermann, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada and Ryan Rickelton.