JOHANNESBURG – South Africa’s national cricket team has confirmed its 16-man squad for the upcoming three-match one-day international (ODI) series against Australia, with star captain Temba Bavuma headlining the selection announced Monday.
Bavuma, who has been given time off to prepare for the Australia series, will not feature in South Africa’s away ODI series against Namibia kicking off this Wednesday, but will step back into his leadership role for the home clash with Australia. The 50-over fixtures are scheduled for September 24, 27 and 30, and will be followed by a three-match Test series between the two sides in October.
In a surprise but welcome addition to the squad, fast bowler Gerald Coetzee earns his first ODI recall since South Africa’s campaign at the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup hosted by India. Star batters Quinton de Kock and David Miller have also secured their places in the side, as Cricket South Africa confirmed in an official statement.
All-rounder Aiden Markram, a key middle-order contributor for the Proteas, will only be available for the second and third matches of the Australia series, though no further details on his initial unavailability were shared. The biggest blow to South Africa’s pace attack comes with the absence of star fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who was ruled out of the entire series due to injury.
The full 16-man squad named for the Australia series is: Temba Bavuma (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs.