Temba Bavuma will be in the Proteas’ starting lineup when they take the field against England at the Wanderers today.
Trailing 2-1 heading into the final match of the series, the match is a must-win clash for South Africa.
Add to this the fact that it’s Vernon Philander’s final Test and possibly the last time Faf du Plessis will play five-day cricket in SA, and it’s clear that coach Mark Boucher’s men need the best from everyone for the full five days.
Bavuma, who hasn’t played yet in this series, proved his worth by scoring 180 for the Lions in a four-day match recently and is expected to come in for Cobras ace Zubayr Hamza, who has not been at his best in the first three Tests.
Du Plessis says: “I can tell you that Temba is back in the side.
PERFECT LINK: Temba Bavuma. Picture: SYDNEY MAHLANGU/BACKPAGEPIX
“The rest, we are still waiting to see what the weather does.
“We don’t have 100 percent clarity on that yet, but that is the one thing that is definite.”
The Proteas also have to make a change to their bowling lineup, with fast bowler Kagiso Rabada banned for the clash. Beuran Hendricks, Andile Phelukhwayo and Dwaine Pretorius are the players looking to crack the nod in place of Rabada.
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