Dean Elgar’s tenure as Proteas Test captain has come to an end after two years, with Temba Bavuma taking over the red national team, and according to new coach Shukri Conrad and director of cricket Enoch Nkwe, this is not the position. the 32-year-old wants to hire one but a long-term appointment.
Bavuma’s new era will begin at the end of the month in the two-Test series against the West Indies up on the Highveld, and has been accompanied by a raft of changes to the squad that played in Australia.
‘good luck’
“The call is clear that with the new direction we are going as a team and system, we all feel we need a change of leadership,” Nkwe said on Friday. “Temba is the best person.
“We’ve seen him adapt to a new philosophy of play and he has a well-established relationship with Shukri. Dean has done a great job in difficult times and thanks for the last two years.
Conrad also highlighted his relationship with Bavuma as a factor in his appointment.
“I think Temba and I are a great fit. That doesn’t make Dean a poor captain, I think he’s done an amazing job and will still have a big role in our leadership group.
“But Temba and I have an understanding of how we want to do it, a few days in Bloemfontein and Kimberley with the ODI squad just consolidated my decision.
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“Temba is a star player in the Test arena, he can continue for a long time and I think the captaincy suits him too. I asked Temba and Enoch about who they want in the team,” said Conrad.
De Zorzi, Coetzee
Aiden Markram is one of the previously dropped players, along with Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder and Senuran Muthusamy, who have found a home in the new-look Test squad.
The prolific Tony de Zorzi has been included for the first time, Heinrich Klaasen has replaced Kyle Verreynne as first-choice wicketkeeper, and Gerald Coetzee is in line to make his debut as a member of Australia’s non-playing squad.
“Gerald needs to run well, we know the promise he has and now is a good time to let him go,” said Conrad. “I like to think that we will be able to play everything quickly in Centurion.
“I’m also used to saying that I want seven batsmen, so I’m going to add all the shares with Wiaan and also the spinner in Senuran, in order to get this balance. It depends on the make-up of the XI.
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“Leaving Kyle was difficult, but in the end I was paid to make certain calls and subjectivity has a role. He has done everything expected, but I Heinrich offers more.
“You are behind Aiden or you think he is lying. I am in the former camp and he will open the batting, I am a good cricketer and he is a stroke player. The way we want to play, we need the right character to match,” said Conrad.
shift: Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Temba Bavuma, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.