World Test champions South Africa have named a four-man pace attack for Sunday’s opening Test against Bangladesh at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The match begins at 2:00 PM Bangladesh Standard Time.
Captain Temba Bavuma announced the playing XI on Saturday, dropping left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj to rely on off-spinner Simon Harmer alongside fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder. Top-order batter Zubayr Hamza also returns to the Test side for the first time since January 2024 while Lungi Ngidi remains sidelined with an injury.
The match offers Bavuma a chance to make cricket history. Having won 13 of his first 15 Tests as captain matching Australian great Lindsay Hassett a victory over Bangladesh will give Bavuma the most successful 16-match start by any Test skipper.
Bangladesh face a daunting task in conditions that traditionally favor pace and bounce. Having wrapped up a drawn Test against the West Indies in Sylhet on Monday, the Tigers arrived in Johannesburg on Wednesday with just four days to prepare.
History heavily favors the hosts who have won 14 of 16 Tests against Bangladesh including all eight played on South African soil. However, Bangladesh arrive boosted by an upset Test win over Australia in August and the red-hot form of batter Towhid Hridoy. Hridoy scored an unbeaten 350 for Bangladesh A in South Africa in September and followed it up with scores of 242 not out and 82 against the West Indies last week.
The second and final Test of the series will take place in Centurion from November 23 to 27.
South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram, Marcus Ackermann, Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson.
