Bavuma to lead SA in home Tests against Sri Lanka

Temba Bavuma is back from an elbow injury (File photo)

Temba Bavuma has recovered from an elbow injury and been included in the squad to play two Tests against Sri Lanka as South Africa look to nail down a place in next year’s World Test Championship (WTC) Final. 

Bavuma, South Africa’s Captain, hasn’t played since October 4, when he hurt himself diving to make his ground during an ODI against Ireland in Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Consequently he missed the Lions’ opening two First-Class fixtures and won’t be involved in the third, against Western Province at the Wanderers from Thursday, because South Africa will go into a two-day camp in Pretoria on the same day. 

On Saturday they will travel to Durban, where the first Test starts next Wednesday.

Also back in the mix is Kagiso Rabada, who was rested for the T20I series against India that ended on Friday and Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee - who, in the India series, returned to international level from conditioning breaks. Jansen and Coetzee last played Tests in January and December against India.

Coetzee left the field for three overs after tweaking a hamstring during the fourth T20I at the Wanderers on Friday. But he did bowl an over subsequent to coming back. 

Should South Africa win both Tests against the Lankans, and the two they will play at home against Pakistan in December and January, they will qualify for the WTC Final at Lord’s in June.

South Africa are currently fifth in the standings with Sri Lanka third. Australia have a lead of 4.17 percentage points and only 4.16 separate the second to fifth sides.

South Africa Test Squad: Temba Bavuma (Captain), David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne. 

(Agencies)