BackProteas head coach Shukri Conrad has backed his batting group to build on their success against Australia, revealing that South Africa are close to settling on a top seven for the remainder of the Test summer.
Speaking ahead of Sunday’s opening Test against Bangladesh at the Wanderers, Conrad addressed the uncertainty surrounding the No. 3 position, defended his approach to selection and explained why he believes the Proteas must improve despite becoming the world’s No. 1-ranked Test team.
South Africa enter the two-match series following their 2-1 victory over Australia, but Conrad insists that success will count for little if his side fails to maintain its standards.
One of the biggest selection decisions ahead of the opening Test concerns the No. 3 batting position.
With David Bedingham omitted from the squad, Tony de Zorzi returning from injury and Zubayr Hamza earning a recall, Conrad confirmed that the position will be filled by one of the two returning batters.
“Obviously, that number three spot, we’ve tried a few players in that position. David was the last one. The last thing I want to do is create what it would look like from the outside as if it’s a bit of a revolving door with that number three position.
“It definitely isn’t that.”
Conrad explained that South Africa’s selections during the Australia series were influenced by the specific challenges presented by the opposition’s bowling attack.
“In particular against Australia, I felt that, especially at the top of the order, we required a certain character, especially against the short-ball plan, which I’m expecting to continue throughout the summer with Bangladesh up on the Highveld as well as England up on the Highveld.”
Hamza’s form for the Lions and South Africa A has put him firmly in contention, while De Zorzi offers an established international option following his recovery.
“Tony coming back from injury, Zuby, really good form this year for both the Lions and the A-side. A natural number three, so we’ll see how the next couple of days pan out.
“One of the two of them will bat at three and the other one won’t play.”
While the No. 3 position remains undecided, Conrad suggested that South Africa’s batting order is approaching a period of stability.
He dismissed suggestions that the coaching staff has adopted a ruthless approach by giving players only a handful of opportunities before moving on.
“I’ve heard the word ruthless being bandied about now as well because it looks like we’re giving guys two or three opportunities and out. That’s definitely not the case.
“Sometimes you’ve just got to get the best players in the side first.”
Conrad singled out Matthew Breetzke’s contribution during the final Test against Australia, particularly his partnership with Ryan Rickelton on the fourth morning at Newlands.
Although Breetzke did not convert his start into a substantial score, Conrad believes his contribution played an important role in setting up South Africa’s eventual victory.
“I thought Matt did a hell of a lot of good things. That partnership on the fourth morning was such a critical one that set it up beautifully for Ryan Rickelton and Wiaan Mulder to do what they did.
“Again, the character speaks loudly to us and Matthew Breetzke is a big-hearted guy.”
Conrad believes Breetzke possesses the qualities required in South Africa’s middle order and indicated that the coaching staff intends to give its players an extended opportunity to establish themselves.
“We’re going to give these guys a good run now. You don’t want to be chopping and changing after every series.
“I’ll be very surprised if the batting top seven would change between now and the end of the English tour.”
It is a significant statement from the Proteas coach, particularly given the competition for batting positions and the ongoing debate surrounding selection.
Despite South Africa’s recent success and Bangladesh’s struggles in Test cricket, Conrad rejected any suggestion that the upcoming series represents an opportunity for easy World Test Championship points.
Instead, he described Bangladesh as South Africa’s most important immediate challenge.
“Like I said to the squad after Australia and as recently as yesterday when we got together, this now becomes our biggest tour of the summer, Bangladesh.”
Conrad believes Bangladesh’s fast-bowling resources have improved considerably and expects their seamers to be effective in Highveld conditions.
“They’ve got a fast bowling attack now. Whereas in years gone by, they’d come here with, with respect, like a pop-gun attack. Now they’ve got guys that can mix it, especially up on the Highveld here, where we expect conditions to favour fast bowling.”
He also pointed to the South African influence within Bangladesh’s support staff as another factor that could help the visitors adapt to local conditions.
“We’re certainly not going to be underestimating them in any way.
“It’s not about catching them off guard. We give them the exact amount of respect that we pay Australia and England.”
For Conrad, the priority is ensuring that the Proteas do not become distracted by their recent achievements.
“We did a lot of good things against Australia, but we did some very ordinary things as well and that’s something that we want to set right and hopefully we can set that right against Bangladesh.”
Former Proteas fast bowler Charl Langeveldt has joined South Africa’s coaching staff as a bowling consultant for the entire Bangladesh tour, covering both the Test and white-ball series.
Langeveldt previously worked with Bangladesh’s bowlers, and Conrad believes that experience will provide South Africa with valuable information about the opposition.
“Charl obviously had experience coaching Bangladesh itself, so there’s a lot of intel there. And Charl has been part of the setup before as well.”
Langeveldt will temporarily fill the role while Piet Botha takes a break.
Conrad confirmed that the former Proteas fast bowler will contribute to both bowling and batting preparations.
“He’s worked with all of them. He’ll give us some really good insights as to what to expect from the various bowlers.
“He won’t just be sitting in the bowlers’ meeting, he’ll definitely be in the batters’ meeting as well, sharing a lot of his ideas.”
Conrad also provided an update on Anrich Nortje, who missed part of the Australia series because of a groin injury.
The fast bowler has returned to training and is gradually increasing his bowling workload, but Conrad indicated that the opening Test against Bangladesh will probably come too soon.
“He obviously went for the scan at St George’s during the Test match and it revealed nothing sinister. So it wasn’t as bad as initially anticipated.
“Didn’t require anything out of the ordinary. Needed just a little bit of rest and then some rehab.”
Conrad expects Nortje to be available for the second Test in Centurion.
“He’s building up his loads as we speak. And he should be good to go by the second Test.”
With the Wanderers traditionally offering pace and bounce, the possibility of selecting an all-seam attack was also raised.
However, Conrad ruled out the idea of fielding five fast bowlers, explaining that Wiaan Mulder’s development as an all-rounder gives South Africa greater flexibility.
“I think what Wiaan does, in particular with the ball now, and he’s obviously added, we always knew what he’s got with the bat as well.
“He gives you the luxury of playing a specialist spinner.”
Conrad believes selecting a fifth seamer would offer little additional value.
“A fifth seamer, for me, is a bit of a waste.
“Because if the four aren’t going to bowl a side out, trust me, the fifth one’s not going to do that.”
He confirmed there would be no temptation to select five seamers, suggesting that either Simon Harmer or Keshav Maharaj could still feature despite the anticipated conditions.
Conrad was also questioned about previous comments suggesting that David Miller had been considered for a Test recall during South Africa’s subcontinent assignments.
The coach explained that the possibility had been linked to specific conditions and the need for a left-handed batter capable of putting opposition spinners under pressure.
“I think it’s a comma rather than a full stop now. So it was specifically for Pakistan and possibly India.”
However, Conrad suggested that the performances of other players in subcontinent conditions had reduced the likelihood of Miller being considered.
“We’ve got a tour to the subcontinent next year, Sri Lanka. We’ll look at all of that.
“But I think with the success that we gained in India, with guys like Senuran Muthusamy and Tony de Zorzi doing as well as they did, I doubt very much if David will come into the equation.”
With the opening Test approaching, Conrad said the Wanderers surface had a healthy grass covering and that he had requested a traditional pitch offering good pace and bounce.
“I just say I want a traditional good Wanderers wicket.
“And whatever that looks like, I’d like to think a Wanderers wicket of old where there’s good pace and bounce.”
Importantly, Conrad stressed that he wants a fair contest between bat and ball rather than a surface that excessively favours the bowlers.
“I think our attack can bowl on good wickets. We can take 20 wickets.
“And our batters, we certainly want to give our batters every chance of posting big totals.”
The Proteas will finalise their playing XI closer to the opening Test, with captain Temba Bavuma expected to provide further clarity at his pre-match press conference.
South Africa face Bangladesh at the Wanderers in Johannesburg from 15–19 November, before the second Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion from 23–27 November.
For Conrad, the immediate challenge is clear: South Africa may be the world’s No. 1 Test team, but maintaining that position will require consistency, improved performances and the same level of preparation against every opponent.
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