Unchanged Proteas squad readies for final two Tests

There have been no changes made to the 17-man Proteas squad going into the final two Test matches of the series against England. The visitors romped to a 189-runs victory in the second Test at Newlands last week, a result which levelled the series 1-1 going into the final two matches.

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The South African selectors have kept faith in the same 17 players, 12 of which saw out the duration of the last match, with the rest released for franchise duty. The players who now rejoin the squad, are the uncapped trio of Rudi Second, Beuran Hendricks and Dane Paterson, alongside Temba Bavuma – back from an injury lay-off – and Andile Phehlukwayo.

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The South African selectors have kept faith in the same 17 players who featured in the first two Tests against England with the series level at 1-all (Image: Sourced).

Batting his way into the team, Second made a half-century for the Warriors in the rained-out Four-Day Cup match against the Titans, while Hendricks put his hand up for Test selection after contributing seven scalps in the Lions’ ten-wicket victory over the Knights. In the same match, Bavuma could only manage nine runs in his only innings.

Putting hands up in earnest

Paterson, on the other hand, had more modest returns as he claimed three wickets across both innings for the Cobras against the Dolphins in a match where his side suffered a crushing defeat. Phehlukwayo top-scored in a match-winning display for the Dolphins.

The Proteas have so far in the series handed three new caps, with Rassie van der Dussen and Dwaine Pretorius both debuting in the Boxing Day Test at Centurion, before opening batsman Pieter Malan featured in his first international at Newlands. The third Test at St George’s Park takes place from January 16, with the series concluding at the Imperial Wanderers from January 24.