About-turn as De Kock now captain in all 3 formats; 4 uncapped players in Test squad
Back in April director of cricket Graeme Smith assured us that Quinton de Kock would not be the Test captain as well as the white-ball skipper but in the eight months since then there has obviously been an about-turn because the wicketkeeper/batsman was on Friday named as the captain for the entire 2020/21 season.
In that period South Africa will host Test series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia, as well as touring Pakistan, but the Proteas management have decided the workload of being captain, wicketkeeper and key batsman in a rebuilding team are within De Kock’s capabilities. Crucially, they must have convinced the 28-year-old that he can keep all those balls in the air because De Kock himself has been reluctant about leading in all three formats.
The 15-man squad announced on Friday contains four uncapped players in top-order batsman Sarel Erwee, seamer Glenton Stuurman, batsman Keegan Petersen and wicketkeeper/batsman Kyle Verreynne, who could force his way into the side if De Kock is relieved of the gloves.
Pace bowling spearhead Kagiso Rabada and all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius were not considered for the squad due to injury. Imperial Lions star Wiaan Mulder therefore makes a return to the squad, having overcome all his injuries and starring with the bat in the most recent round of four-day matches.
Aiden Markram, the leading run-scorer in the four-day competition after three consecutive centuries, is in the squad, but there is no place for Pieter Malan, who played in the Proteas last Test, against England in January.
The retirement of Vernon Philander has led to the selection of the like-for-like Stuurman, while the other players missing from that Wanderers Test are the injured Pretorius and Dane Paterson, who has followed the trail overseas.
The new convenor of selectors, Victor Mpitsang, could well face questions from the transformation lobby over there being just six players of colour in the 15-man squad.
Proteas Test squad against Sri Lanka:
Quinton de Kock (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (Imperial Lions), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Faf du Plessis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Imperial Lions), Dean Elgar (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (Imperial Lions), Sarel Erwee (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Glenton Stuurman (Warriors), Wiaan Mulder (Imperial Lions), Keegan Petersen (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Kyle Verreynne (Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras).