After recovering from a finger fracture, batsman Rassie van der Dussen on Monday returned to South Africa’s squad for the three-Test series starting next month in Australia. New fast bowler Gerald Koetze has been included in the team while batsman Theunis de Bruyne has also made a return. De Bruyne has not played international cricket since 2019. Wicketkeeper- Heinrich Klaasen has been preferred as wicketkeeper due to the injury of Ryan Rickelton. However, the team will miss the top-order batsman Keegan Pietersen.
Pietersen, who was batting at the third order, got injured due to a muscle strain during domestic cricket. Spinner Keshav Maharaj has been selected in the team even after being injured. Cricket South Africa said it would recover from a groin injury before the tour. The team, led by captain Dean Elgar, will play a three-match Test series in Australia in December-January in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. Australia top the table in the World Test Championship while South Africa is at the second position. South Africa will take the field for the first time under the guidance of interim head coach Malibongwe Maketa. This will be the Proteas’ first match after losing to the Netherlands in the T20 World Cup.
