South Africa on Tuesday named a 21-man enlarged squad for a 3-Test series against India which will start on December 26 after having postponed due to concerns over the new Omicron variant of Covid. Dean Elgar will lead the side which will also feature regulars, Aiden Makram, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje.
Temba Bavuma, who led South Africa impressively at the T20 World Cup, will be vice-captain of the Test team.
India and South Africa will begin the Test series with the Boxing Day Test in Centurion. The New Year’s Test will be played from January 3 in Johannesburg while the series finale will be held in Cape Town from January 11.
India, who have never won a Test series in South Africa, are yet to name their squad for the Test series. India and South Africa were initially scheduled to play 3 Tests, as many ODIs and 4 T20Is from December 17 but the two boards decided to delay the tour amid scare over the new Covid variant.
South Africa are heading into the Test series after having won a 2-match series in West Indies 2-0 in June, 2021. The Proteas have not played Test cricket since.
Squad:
Dean Elgar (captain), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain), Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Kagiso Rabada, Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, Prenelan Subrayen, Sisanda Magala, Ryan Rickelton, Duanne Olivier.
