Morris and Olivier added to Proteas Test squad
South Africa's selectors have bolstered their fast-bowling ranks ahead of the third Test on Thursday at Cape Town, adding Duanne Olivier and all-rounder Chris Morris to the squad for the remaining two matches against Australia.
“Circumstances have forced us to name a large squad at this stage so that we can cover all possible options,” commented CSA National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi. “Once we have finalised our playing XI we will release players to their franchises for the final round of the Sunfoil Series.
“We have retained the 15 players who produced an excellent performance to level the Test Series in Port Elizabeth. Olivier was the pick of our bowlers for South Africa A in their tour match against Australia while Morris has been in excellent form in domestic cricket, taking four wickets in an innings and making more than 150 runs, including a century, for the Multiply Titans in the Sunfoil Series against the Warriors,” Zondi added.
Morris, who has played four Tests to date, last appeared for South Africa at The Oval in 2017, while Olivier played the last of his six Tests against Bangladesh last October.
Both men have been drafted in primarily as cover. It is expected that Morne Morkel will return to the starting XI after not featuring in South Africa's Second Test victory at Port Elizabeth, while Kagiso Rabada's participation hinges on the results of his appeal against a Level 2 sanction and subsequent two-match ban, which takes place on Monday, March 19.
Test squad: Faf du Plessis (Multiply Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (WSB Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (WSB Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Multiply Titans), Theunis de Bruyn (VKB Knights), AB de Villiers (Multiply Titans), Dean Elgar (Multiply Titans), Heinrich Klaasen (Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Multiply Titans), Morne Morkel (Multiply Titans), Chris Morris (Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (bizhub Highveld Lions), Lungisani Ngidi (Multiply Titans), Duanne Olivier (VKB Knights), Vernon Philander (WSB Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions).