Quinton de Kock has been appointed as the captain of the South Africa team for the upcoming two Tests against Sri Lanka that will begin on December 26. Initially, there was some apprehension as to whether the tour will take place after England postponed their three-match ODI series due to the coronavirus situation and the poor implementation of the bio-bubble protocols. The appointment of Quinton de Kock is another major shift for South Africa as they look to blood some youngsters for future assignments. Cricket South Africa also announced that Sarel Erwee, Glenton Stuurman and Kyle Verreynne have received call-ups for the tour. Former South Africa under-19s captain, Wiaan Mulder, makes a return to the national team after a period of prolonged injury kept him out of action.
Erwee has had a good run in South Africa’s domestic circuit, recently smashing 199 for the Dolphins in the 4-Day Domestic Series season-opener against the Lions. He averages 60.28 with 469 runs in eight innings so far in the competition. Stuurman is a right-arm medium-pacer and he has a record of 181 wickets from 46 matches at a bowling average of 21.28 for the Warriors in the domestic first-class compeition. His best bowling figures of 7/12 are capped off by a high score of 81 from his overall 671 runs, making him a player to look out for in this format.
Verreynne has amassed 551 runs in 11 innings, at an average of 55.10, including two centuries and three half-centuries for Cape Cobras. Before joining the national team for the limited overs tour against England, he had scored 247 runs in two matches, at an average of 61.75. Keegan Petersen has a century and half-century under his own belt for the Dolphins, averaging 57.66 in the competition, while Mulder brings much-need all-rounder capabilities into the fold with a fresh, unbeaten century from last week to his tally for the Lions, also enjoying an above-50 average.
The National Selection Panel led by Convenor of Selectors, Victor Mpitsang, is confident of De Kock’s leadership capabilities and the leadership he has shown so far and will spend the next few months finalizing the appointment of the player who will take on the permanent role.
“We are satisfied, as the National Selection Panel, with the decision that we have made to ensure continuity within the team, while we work towards making the best decision for its future without the pressure of time constraints. Quinton (de Kock) is happy to continue in the role for the next season and is comfortable with the balance of the workload and we back him fully as a captain. We are also pleased with the leadership group in the team and are cultivating a strong individual leadership culture at the same time, so that the team produces a sustainable stream of potential captains for the future,” Mpitsang said.
Kagiso Rabada and Dwaine Pretorius are not yet fit enough for the physical exertions of Test cricket as a result of injuries picked up during the England tour. Lungi Ngidi will therefore lead the pace attack with Anrich Nortje and Beuran Hendricks, who both impressed last summer against England. Ngidi missed out on Test cricket last season because of injury.
The two-Test series will be played in Centurion and Johannesburg on Boxing Day and New Year. In 2019, Sri Lanka created history as they became the first Asian nation to win a Test series in South Africa. In Durban, Kusal Perera smashed 153* and helped Sri Lanka win the game by one wicket in a classic match which saw a last-wicket stand of 76 with Vishwa Fernando. In Port Elizabeth, Sri Lanka dominated and won the match comfortably. The two-Test series will be part of the ICC World Test Championships.
South Africa squad
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).