South Africa could go into the four-day Test against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day with their four meanest fast bowlers after Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada were all named in a 14-man squad.
The quartet have never played a Test together – mostly due to Steyn’s lengthy injury layoff – but they could be unleashed if Steyn comes through a three-day match against the tourists this week.
AB de Villiers has also returned to the Proteas squad for the first time in almost two years, although his participation and that of captain Faf du Plessis will be contingent on their ability to prove their fitness. De Villiers is suffering from a lower back strain, which has led to his withdrawal from a South African Invitational XI that will take on Zimbabwe in a day-night warm-up match in Paarl on Wednesday, while du Plessis’s recovery from shoulder surgery is taking longer than expected.
“AB de Villiers is struggling with lower back stiffness and has been withdrawn from the three-day warm-up match as a precaution,” Proteas team manager Dr. Mohammed Moosajee said on Tuesday (December 19). “He is, however, available for selection for the Test match against Zimbabwe.”
No mention was made of du Plessis in Cricket South Africa’s squad announcement although the head of their medical committee, Dr Shuaib Manjra, told Cricbuzz on Monday that the captain’s fitness is “touch and go” for the Zimbabwe Test. While no decision has been made over who will captain South Africa if Du Plessis is unavailable, Dean Elgar is likely to get the job after filling in at Lord’s earlier this year.
Should both du Plessis and de Villiers be available then the latter could miss out. Selection convenor Linda Zondi hinted that de Villiers would essentially be the last batsman in, and his inclusion would depend on the combination that the panel feel is likeliest to yield a victory.
“First we need to make sure that everyone is fit, and if they are then AB’s selection is likely to come down to which format we think is best. We need to decide whether to go with six batters, a spinner and four seamers or seven batters, a spinner and three seamers,” Zondi told Cricbuzz.
That decision will be influenced by how Steyn goes in the warm-up match, and whether the selectors want to unleash the full pace quartet. Their availability has meant there is no place for Duanne Olivier in the squad, while Chris Morris has not been selected and was withdrawn from the SA Invitational XI after picking up a minor groin strain in the Ram Slam final on Saturday.
However, with Vernon Philander also back in the mix, the Proteas are approaching full strength at just the right time, and should have a full complement of their strongest players by January 5, when the first match of a three-Test series against India gets underway at Newlands.
“It is a very exciting moment not just for South Africa but for world cricket to have Dale and AB, two icons of the game, back in the multi-day format,” said Zondi. “After Zimbabwe we have two very tough home Test Series coming up against India, the No. 1 ranked side in the world, and Australia, who have just regained the Ashes in their current series against England.
“AB and Dale bring loads of experience to the side apart from being two of the South African all-time greats. It is also good to have Vernon back and it is very encouraging that our four premium fast bowlers – Steyn, Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Morne Morkel – are all back in the selection mix.”
Squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn.
