Neil Brand to lead South Africa against New Zealand on Test debut

In a surprising move, Titans’ Neil Brand, yet to feature in a Test match, will lead the team. The squad features Test regulars David Bedingham and Keegan Petersen, currently engaged in the ongoing Test series against India, alongside Zubayr Hamza, newly called up for the upcoming New Year’s Test.

The seasoned Khaya Zondo joins the squad, supported by pace duo Duanne Olivier and Dane Paterson, along with spinner Dane Piedt, all aiming to bolster their Test experience.

However, a significant portion of the squad involved in the India series won’t be available due to their commitments with SA20, commencing on January 10. This ruling out of Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Nandre Burger, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Keshav Maharaj. Additionally, Dean Elgar won’t participate in the T20 tournament but will retire from Test cricket in the upcoming New Year.

Brand, who recently guided South Africa A to a 2-1 series victory against West Indies A, is among seven players yet to make their international debut. The other newcomers include batsman Raynard van Tonder, all-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Mihlali Mpongwana, fast bowler Tshepo Moreki, spinner Shaun von Berg, and wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin.

“Firstly I would like to congratulate the players that will be going on a Proteas tour for the first time. It is a real honour to represent your country, so they should savour the moment. The players picked for this tour have every chance of challenging New Zealand and we have full confidence they will do exactly that when we arrive for the first Test match at Mount Maunganui,” Test head coach Shukri Conrad said.

“Most of these guys participated in the recent ‘A’ series against West Indies where they showed that they have what it takes against players of international calibre. That experience will no doubt leave them in a better position for what we expect to be a testing series in New Zealand.”

The plans of red-ball coach Shukri Conrad took a hit at the eleventh hour when Durban’s Super Giants secured the signing of Tony de Zorzi, initially set to open the batting for South Africa in New Zealand on Thursday morning.

South Africa has managed to assemble a squad featuring eight established Test players with a combined tally of 50 games. Among them, seamer Duanne Olivier boasts the most experience, having played 15 Tests from 2017 to 2022, closely followed by Petersen with 12 appearances.

The squad will depart for New Zealand on 19 January and the first Test will be played from February 4 in Mount Maunganui.

Squad: Neil Brand (captain) David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg and Khaya Zondo