Tony de Zorzi returns to South Africa squad for Bangladesh Tests
Tony de Zorzi will return to the Test side after recovering from a hamstring injury • AFP/Getty Images
South Africa have also included an extra batter in Zubayr Hamza, with wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne left out after he was benched during the Australia series. Matthew Breetzke is the reserve wicketkeeper, with Ryan Rickelton the first choice to keep the gloves in the XI.
With both matches scheduled to be played in the Highveld, all eyes will be on South Africa's pace attack. Anrich Nortje is back in the squad after he suffered a groin injury at St George's Park and left the field midway through his fourth over in the third Test against Australia. Nortje has since completed a two-week recovery program.
Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson are the other six fast-bowling options in the squad for South Africa. On the other hand, Lungi Ngidi was not considered as he continues to make a recovery from a hamstring problem.
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South Africa have included two specialist spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, but there was no room for the left-arm spin-bowling allrounder, Senuran Muthusamy. Given the pace-friendly venues for the series, it is highly likely South Africa will only field one spinner per XI, which could lead to another tough selection call between Harmer and Maharaj.
Harmer was preferred over Maharaj for the last two Tests against Australia. Temba Bavuma called dropping Maharaj one of the most difficult decisions of his captaincy, since he has been South Africa's frontline spinner for a decade.
Speaking to the media after South Africa's series win over Australia, head coach Shukri Conrad echoed the challenge of sidelining Maharaj. However, Conrad gave no indication of which way the team's selection would swing in future.
"I told him I was really sorry that I had to leave him out and as a true pro that he is, he doesn't go without a fight," Conrad said. "I don't expect anybody to go without a fight. Ultimately, again, he understands that it's for the betterment of the side. It's not about the selection being justified by Simon doing what he did today. It's what we believed was the right call [before the Test] and we've got to live by that [decision]. And if it wasn't the right call, then I've got to front up to that as well. But I've guessed okay again."
South Africa will also have some interesting choices to make with their batting line-up. They moved Rickelton down the order for the Australia series and used Marques Ackerman - who had never opened in a red-ball match before the series - to partner Aiden Markram. However, with de Zorzi back, he may open the batting again, with Ackerman a potential pick for No. 3 after Bedingham failed to make the role his own. Bedingham, who was installed in the position after being left out of South Africa's tour to the subcontinent last year, had several starts against Australia, and scored one fifty, but proved vulnerable against the short ball.
De Zorzi had been with the South African squad through their week at Newlands. Now, he will have an opportunity in the two Tests against Bangladesh to cement his spot at the top of the order.
If he does so, it may mean there will be no space in the XI for Zubayr Hamza once again, who has played eight Tests for South Africa, but none since the tour of New Zealand in 2024. Hamza has spent half of those matches batting at No. 3, where he has also batted for the bulk of his first-class career, and the other half between No. 4 to 6. Hamza is in excellent form in the last year and scored three half-centuries for South Africa A against all of India A, England A and Bangladesh A. His inclusion in the Bangladesh squad serves to provide the top-order with "depth," Conrad said.
Following South Africa's three-match series against Australia, in which every game went to five days, South Africa have nine days off before they convene in Johannesburg for the Bangladesh series. It will be their first as the No. 1 ranked Test side in the world. The first game starts on November 15 in Johannesburg, followed by a second Test from November 23 at SuperSport Park.
South Africa's Test squad for two Tests vs Bangladesh
Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton
Firdose Moonda is Cricinfo's senior correspondent for Africa and women's cricket
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