South Africa has announced strong T20I and ODI squads for their upcoming white-ball tour of Australia next month. Aiden Markram and Temba Bavuma return to captain the T20 and ODI sides, respectively, signaling the start of preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup and the 2027 ODI World Cup.
Senior Stars Back to Guide Full-Strength Squads
Markram, who was rested during the recent Zimbabwe series, will be back in charge of the T20 team. Bavuma, recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in the World Test Championship Final, will lead the ODI squad. Their return adds valuable experience to both formats.
“𝑰𝒕’𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒐𝒓 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒊𝒙 𝒂𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒊𝒓 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒇𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝑻𝑪 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍,” — 𝑪𝒐𝒂𝒄𝒉 𝑺𝒉𝒖𝒌𝒓𝒊 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒓𝒂𝒅
This squad announcement is notable as it’s the last made solely by Shukri Conrad before Patrick Moroney officially takes over as convenor of selectors on August 1.
Marco Jansen and David Miller are the only high-profile absentees. Jansen is recovering from thumb surgery, while Miller will be fulfilling his Hundred commitments. However, Miller is expected to return for the white-ball tour of England later this year.
Focus on Spin and Young Talent
In the T20 setup, veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj is absent, with South Africa instead testing left-arm options George Linde and Senuran Muthusamy, alongside leggie Nqaba Peter. Notably, Tabraiz Shamsi remains out of the setup.
“𝑼𝒏𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒍𝒚, 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒕 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒇𝒓𝒐𝒎 𝒎𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒕 [𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒔𝒊],” — 𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒓𝒂𝒅 𝒐𝒏 𝑺𝒉𝒂𝒎𝒔𝒊’𝒔 𝒂𝒃𝒔𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆
The T20 batting lineup includes the returning Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs, with Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius retained after their performances in Zimbabwe. The seam attack will be led by Rabada, supported by Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, Corbin Bosch, and youngster Kwena Maphaka. Gerald Coetzee has not been picked, with Conrad explaining squad balance and Bosch’s rise as reasons.
For the ODIs, the squad mixes youth and experience. Alongside Rickelton, Stubbs, and Pretorius, players like Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, and all-rounder Wiaan Mulder get opportunities. Rassie van der Dussen, despite his impressive ODI record, is left out.
Conrad clarified:
“𝑯𝒆’𝒔 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒊𝒏 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑻20 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑪𝒖𝒑… 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒕𝒉𝒆 50-𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒆𝒂𝒎, 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔.”
South Africa Squads for Australia Tour
T20I Squad:
Aiden Markram (capt), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen, Rassie van der Dussen
ODI Squad:
Temba Bavuma (capt), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen
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