Temba Bavuma ruled out; Keshav Maharaj, David Miller named white-ball captains for England and Ireland series

Cricket South Africa have announced the ruling out of white-ball skipper Temba Bavuma from the team’s upcoming tour of the UK owing to an elbow injury. South Africa will be touring the UK from July 19 to September 12 for a multi-format series that will include three ODIs and T20Is, followed by two T20Is against Ireland in Bristol, before three Tests against England.

Bavuma’s treatment is expected to take eight weeks, following which he will return to his regular play routine. The right-hander injured his elbow while batting during the fourth T20I against India in the recently concluded away series. As a result, he had to retire hurt from that game and also had to miss out the fifth and final T20I of the series.

Meanwhile, Keshav Maharaj and David Miller will take the leadership charge of the ODI and T20I series, respectively, in his absence. Further, the 21-year-old Gerald Coetzee received his maiden international call-up for the T20I series, whereas the 32-year-old Rossouw will be making an appearance in the squad for the first time since the 2016 T20I World Cup.

“The National Selection Panel and I are relishing the opportunity to see what this strong Proteas group will produce in this all-important tour to England. With ICC World Test Championship points at stake, the team has everything to play for. The T20 format is a high priority for us at the moment because of ICC T20 World Cup coming up in a few short months in Australia,” said Victor Mpitsang, CSA Convenor of Selectors.

“We are looking to give opportunities to players that we are interested in seeing and working out the best combinations, while also trying to balance our desire to maintain enough consistency within the set up that the players are used to playing together as a team by the time they reach Australia for the World Cup. This series will go a long way in helping us achieve all of those objectives,” he added.

Mpitsang also stated the importance of the 50-over series for the Proteas, as they aim to build a strong squad for the 2023 ODI World Cup and wished the skippers for their forthcoming assignments.

South Africa Squad for England Tour:

ODI Squad

Keshav Maharaj (c), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams, Khaya Zondo, Kyle Verreynne.

T20I Squad

David Miller (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen.

Test Squad

Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Duanne Olivier, Keegan Petersen, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Lutho Sipamla, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Khaya Zondo, Glenton Stuurman.