Van der Dussen keeps place, Bavuma out

CAPE TOWN: Rassie van der Dussen will remain in the South Africa side for the second Test with England at Newlands after his impressive debut display in his team’s opening win, keeping Temba Bavuma out despite his return to fitness from a hip injury.

Bavuma will not have the chance to repeat his Newlands heroics against England from four years ago, when his thrilling century made him the first black African to make a hundred for South Africa.

The decision to overlook Bavuma for a white player may cause some controversy in view of an official target of having two black Africans in the national team. Kagiso Rabada is now the only black representative.

“Temba passed his fitness test. But we think it is the right thing to do to give Rassie an extended run,” said captain Faf Du Plessis. Asked what message he had for black followers of the game, Du Plessis insisted the decison to keep Bavuma out was a purely cricketing one.

“We don’t see colour. Opportunity is very important. Temba will be the first guy to acknowledge that he got a really good opportunity,” he said. “There will be things in place to make sure we keep producing players of all colours but right now we need to win Test matches.” Van der Dussen shared a crucial second-innings partnership of 91 runs with Anrich Nortje in the first Test in Centurion.