South Africa name Klaasen and Mulder in squad for Australia Tests
Heinrich Klaasen and Willem Mulder are the new faces in the South Africa Test squad, which was named on Saturday, 24 February for the four-match series against Australia, starting with the first fixture in Durban on 1 March.
Of the players who did duty during the three-Test series against India at home earlier in the year, which South Africa won 2-1, Andile Phehlukwayo and Chris Morris were left out. Morris didn’t get into the playing XI for any of the Tests, while Phehlukwayo played the final Test, picking up two wickets as he was used as the back-up pace option to Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Lungi Ngidi.
All four frontline pacers continued to be a part of the squad and while Dale Steyn wasn’t considered as he continued his recovery from the left heel injury he sustained in the first Test against India, Mulder was brought in as an additional pace option, with his ability to wield the willow with some expertise working in his favour.
Mulder, 20, made his first-class debut in the 2016-17 season and then his one-day international debut against Bangladesh in October 2017. That remains his only appearance for the national team.
Reacting to the call-up, Mulder, who is part of the South Africa A team that is currently playing the Australians in a tour game, said it would be an “unbelievable experience” to make his Test debut, if it happens, against Steve Smith’s men.
“Russell (Domingo, the SA A coach) called me across to his cell phone and I saw Linda Zondi’s number come up on the phone so I knew something was up. I couldn’t believe it when he told me I had been selected. In fact, I still can’t believe it,” he said. “It’s an unbelievable experience (to make his debut). I could see from our game against them here at Benoni what a class act they are.”
Klaasen, meanwhile, made a wonderful impression for South Africa in the ongoing limited-overs series against India, playing match-winning hands with the bat in the only two games South Africa have won so far – the fourth ODI and the second Twenty20 International.
Speaking on the two newcomers, Linda Zondi, the Cricket South Africa National Selection Panel Convener, said, “Klaasen has been tremendously impressive in the white-ball matches he has played for the Proteas and we firmly believe he can become just as good a player in the five-day format. We are also keen to have a back-up wicket-keeper to (Quinton) de Kock in the squad.
“The selection of Mulder continues our strategy to expand our pool of all-rounders against top-quality opposition. He is a batting all-rounder and his selection will depend on how we decide to balance our starting XI. He has been the top all-rounder in the Sunfoil Series with a batting average of 60 (one century) and 15 wickets at an average of 28.
“It has been very exciting this season to see the way young players have settled into the various Proteas squads and done well and this is a continuation of that policy.”
Meanwhile, Faf du Plessis, de Kock, AB de Villiers and Temba Bavuma were all selected following injury layoffs. Du Plessis fractured a finger during the first ODI against India, while de Kock hurt his left wrist in the second game, and hasn't been in action since. Bavuma had been picked in the squad for the India Tests but was released after failing to recover from a broken finger. De Villiers has also been nursing injuries and was left out of the T20I squad for the India series after initially being picked following a left knee injury.
The Test series against Australia will move to Port Elizabeth, Cape Town and Johannesburg after the first game at Durban’s Kingsmead.
Squad: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Willem Mulder, Lungisani Ngidi, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.