Bavuma returns to lead South Africa to West Indies in rare Test series

JOHANNESBURG: Temba Bavuma will return to international cricket for the first time this year when he captains South Africa in a two-match Test series in the West Indies next month.

His lengthy absence from South African teams illustrates what coach Shukri Conrad says is the reality of a modern cricketing world dominated by white-ball cricket. “It is what it is and we just have to make it work,” Conrad said at a press conference announcing a 16-man squad for the tour.

White-ball and English county commitments mean that Conrad will only have eight of his 16-man squad available for a pre-tour camp in Durban next week. “We’ve got the luxury of a warm-up game, so we’ve got 10 days in Trinidad before the first Test match,” he said.

“I mentioned to Temba that it’s the first time as a Test unit that we’re going to spend some extended time together. “My first series was against the West Indies (in February and March 2023) when we got together three days before the first game and we got together two days before the India series because there were Monday matches going on.

“You just have to roll with the punches. It is the modern day world. Players can easily move from T20 and Test match cricket. Squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne (wkt)