It’s an exciting time for cricket
PAARL: AB de Villiers’ return to the Proteas Test squad will force the national selectors to make at least one change to the batting unit for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe on Boxing Day at St George’s Park.
But instead of anxiously waiting that he may be the batsman considered surplus to requirements for the inaugural four-day day-night Test to accommodate De Villiers’ expected inclusion, Temba Bavuma is relishing the “healthy competition”.
“I think as us players, we’re glad to have a guy like AB back,” Bavuma said at Boland Park, where he is preparing to face the tourists in a warm-up match.
“He brings a lot of experience to the team. It is always something that I can benefit from. The good thing is that I am not a selector so I don’t have to pick the top six. I think it is healthy competition.”
De Villiers and Dale Steyn were included in South Africa’s Test squad for the daynight match in the Friendly City after a lengthy absence from the five-day arena. De Villiers last played a Test in January 2016, while Steyn has not played any international cricket after suffering a shoulder injury at the Waca last November.
Fellow veteran seamers Morne Morkel and Vernon Philander are also back in the squad after recovering from a side strain and sore back respectively, which leaves no place in the squad for allrounder Chris Morris.
“It is a very exciting moment not just for South Africa but for world cricket to have Dale and AB, two icons of the game, back in the multi-day format,” convenor of selectors Linda Zondi said.
“After Zimbabwe we have two very tough home Test series coming up against India, the No 1 ranked side in the world, and Australia, who have just regained the Ashes in their current series against England. AB and Dale bring loads of experience to the side apart from being two of the South African all-time greats.
“It is also good to have Vernon back and it is very encouraging that our four premium fast bowlers (Steyn, Philander, Kagiso Rabada and Morkel) are all back in the selection mix.”
De Villiers, Morris, Steyn and Bavuma were all meant to be put through their paces in the longer format this week here in the winelands against the Zimbabweans, but it is only the latter two who will now be present at Boland Park.
According to team doctor and manager Mohammed Moosajee, De Villiers and Morris were withdrawn due to lower back and groin strains respectively, but the former Proteas captain is still available for selection for the Zimbabwe Test.
Bavuma, however, is keen to make the most of the game time provided to him after a stopstart T20 Challenge campaign with the Cobras that ultimately came to a disappointing end due to a washed out semifinal in Durban.
“It (the T20) probably didn’t start off too well and probably didn’t end off well either. I was able to make contributions to the team, but nothing to write home about. I am quite disappointed in how it finished individually, and obviously as a team,” Bavuma said.
“I was selected in this game. The selectors felt I needed time in the middle, so it is a good way to get back into the longer format of the game. I haven’t really thought about it (making a statement in the game) this way. I am in the Test squad. Whatever happens, happens. I am going to use it for time in the middle.”
The playing conditions for the three-day warm-up game at Boland Park will imitate that of the Test at St George’s Park with 98 overs required to be bowled in the day. The only difference is that play will start at 3.30pm instead of 1.30 and run until 11pm to give both teams the opportunity of bowling and batting under lights.