South Africa Announces Squad for Test Series Against West Indies

South Africa’s red-ball head coach Shukri Conrad has announced a 16-player squad for the upcoming two-match Test series against West Indies, starting on August 7 in Trinidad and Tobago.

New Faces and Key Players

Matthew Breetzke, a batter from Dafabet Warriors, earned his first Test call-up after an impressive domestic season where he scored 322 runs at an average of 46, including a top score of 188. He was also part of the South African A side that toured Sri Lanka in 2023.

With Dean Elgar’s retirement, Breetzke could provide backup to the batting unit featuring Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma, and Tristan Stubbs.

Experienced Players

David Bedingham, Dane Paterson, and Dane Piedt are the only players from the squad that toured New Zealand earlier this year. Paterson is included to provide experience in the absence of Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen, while Piedt will serve as the second spinner alongside Keshav Maharaj.

Returning Players

Wicketkeeper batter Ryan Rickelton is making his return to the red-ball setup for the first time since South Africa hosted the West Indies in March last year.

Importance of the Series

Conrad emphasized the importance of the tour as part of the ongoing cycle of the World Test Championship. He stated, “We are looking forward to returning to Test cricket after a busy period of limited-overs cricket over the past few months. This tour is extremely important for us as we aim to improve our standing in the ICC World Test Championship. We have therefore selected our strongest possible squad and look forward to strong performances in the Caribbean.”

Squad List