Cricket South Africa will be hoping that they have found replacements for retired duo Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn already.
Announcing their Test squad for the tour of India on Tuesday, the Proteas included the uncapped Anrich Nortje, seen as Steyn’s replacement, and the Cape Cobras’ Zubayr Hamza, who Director of Cricket Corrie van Zyl believes can fill the void left by Amla.
Van Zyl says: “Zubayr Hamza made an impressive start to his Test career against Pakistan last season when Faf du Plessis was ruled out and the retirement of Hashim Amla creates a further opportunity for him.”
NEW HASH: Zubayr Hamza. Photo: BackpagePix.
Nortje, meanwhile, is one of three uncapped players in the squad the others being Dolphins spinner Senuran Muthusamy and Lions wicketkeeper Rudi Second.
There was also a recall for Cape Cobras captain Dane Piedt, who last played Test cricket back in 2016.
HE’S BACK: Dane Piedt. Photo: Ryan Wilkisky/BackpagePix.
But after bagging the most wickets (54) in the 4-Day competition last season, there was no way the selectors could ignore him.
The squad will be captained by Faf du Plessis, with Temba Bavuma being his deputy.
%%%twitter https://twitter.com/hashtag/BreakingNews?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BreakingNews @QuinnyDeKock69 will captain the T20 squad with @Rassie72 as vice-captain while @tbavuma10 will be the vice-captain to @faf1307 in the Test squad. More info to follow. #ProteasIndiaSquads pic.twitter.com/2hl8aggPL3
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA)
T20I squad:
Quinton de Kock ( captain), Rassie van der Dussen ( vice captain), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts.
Test squad:
Faf du Plessis ( captain), Temba Bavuma ( vice captain), Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second.