South African cricketers Matthew Breetzke (left) and captain Aiden Markram attend a practice session at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on October 18, 2024, ahead of their first test cricket match against Bangladesh Matthew Breetzke (left) will make his long-awaited debut for the Proteas in the first Test against Bangladesh in Mirpur on Monday. Aiden Markram captains the Proteas in the injury-enforced absence of Temba Bavuma. Picture: Zabed Hasnain Chowdhury/NurPhoto via AFP
Bangladesh won the toss and chose to bat in the first Test against South Africa in Mirprur on Monday.
For South Africa, Matthew Breetzke will make his long-awaited debut.
At the top of the order, Aiden Markram captains the Proteas with regular Test skipper Temba Bavuma ruled out of the first clash with injury.
Tony de Zorzi, meanwhile, recovered from a knee injury he picked up against Ireland in their One-Day International series earlier this month.
Big Moments Are Here! 🚀
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 20, 2024
Dewald Brevis steps onto the field for a training session in his first Test tour with the Proteas Men, as the team prepares for tomorrow’s Test showdown against Bangladesh.
The future of South African cricket is bright, and the energy is electric!… pic.twitter.com/N45F9r8IdT
It was also a welcome return to the team for Kagiso Rabada who had earned some time off following the T20 World Cup earlier this year.
South Africa went with Dane Piedt and Keshav Maharaj in the spin friendly conditions. It also meant that allrounder Wiaan Mulder was the only other recognised seamer in the attack alongside Rabada.
Talking about only employing two quick bowlers for the Test, coach Shukri Conrad said: “We are pretty confident we have covered all our bases and ticked our boxes. We see it as a great challenge.
“We have one of the best in the world in Kesh [Maharaj] and Dane [Piedt] is hugely experienced, and then a few part-timers who are better than part-timers.”
For Bangladesh, wicketkeeper Jaker Ali also made his debut.
Bangladesh XI: Shadman Islam, Mahmudul Hasan Joy, Najmul Hossain Shanto (capt), Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das (wk), Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Jaker Ali, Nayeem Hasan, Taijul Islam, Hasan Mahmud.
South Africa XI: Aiden Markram (capt), Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Piedt.