Johannesburg, Dec 7 (Agency) Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Tuesday announced a 21-member squad for the three-match Test series against India, which is set to take place from December 26 to January 15, 2022. The series will form part of the new cycle of ICC World Test Championship and will be hosted in three venues, namely Super Sport Park, Imperial Wanderers and Six Gun Grill Newlands, respectively. The National Selection Panel has gone with the same core group that successfully toured the West Indies earlier this year and have included three other names. Proteas fans will be delighted to see the return of household names such as Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock and Enrique Nortje.
Also, Duane Olivier, has returned to the South African domestic set-up after a long time. His last appearance for South Africa was in Gqeberha against Sri Lanka in February, 2019. Glenton Stuurman and Prenelan Subrian have also been re-called to the squad, while Sisanda Magala and Ryan Rickelton received their first Test team call-up. CSA Convenor of Selectors, Victor Mpitsang said, “We as Selectors, are excited for the return of Test cricket. This format is very important to CSA and keeping it relevant and alive is one of the organisation’s priorities. “We are really looking forward to the return of Dean Elgar and his men; it’s been a long few months since the last time we saw them dominate in the West Indies. “We are confident in the team that we have selected and believe fully in backing the talent that we have unearthed and cultivated over the last couple of seasons and giving players the backing that they deserve when they have continuously done well over a significant period of time,” he added.
Mpitsang said, “This Test series is also important in terms of getting some points in the Test Championship table and we are confident that this group will pick up from where they left off and give us a good show on home soil. “On behalf of the Selectors, I would like to wish Dean (Elgar), Mark Boucher and the team all of the best for the next few weeks of what I’m certain will be really entertaining cricket.” South Africa 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.