When do new-look Proteas play next Test?

In a sign of the times, Cricket South Africa ultimately put the lucrative SA20 competition ahead of the Test series against New Zealand, with the squad selected notably missing the majority of the Proteas’ big-name players.

Recently, Western Province batter Edward Moore was added to the Proteas Test squad for the two-match series. The 30-year-old has so far amassed 414 runs at an average of 51.75 in this season’s Division 1 CSA 4-Day Series. The opening batter twice recorded hundreds against AET Tuskers and the Titans respectively.  

Overall, he has played 117 first-class matches and has a run tally of nearly 8 000, including 17 hundreds and a career-best of 228. 

The squad – to be captained by Neil Brand – will depart for New Zealand from OR Tambo International Airport on Friday, 19 January.

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PROTEAS TEST SQUAD AGAINST NEW ZEALAND

Neil Brand (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), David Bedingham (Western Province), Ruan de Swardt (North West Dragons), Clyde Fortuin (Gbets Rocks), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Edward Moore (Western Province), Tshepo Moreki (DP World Lions), Mihlali Mpongwana (Western Province), Duanne Olivier (DP World Lions), Dane Paterson (Western Province), Keegan Petersen (Gbets Rocks), Dane Piedt (ITEC Knights), Raynard van Tonder (North West Dragons), Shaun von Berg (Gbets Rocks) and Khaya Zondo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins). 

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Amid plenty of criticism that the selection received, Australian great Steve Waugh voiced his disgust at the squad, saying if he were New Zealand he would refuse to play the series.

With the suggestion that CSA and the Proteas are devaluing Test cricket, the governing body released a statement earlier this month.

“The Board of Cricket South Africa (CSA) notes the concerns about the composition of the Test squad that will be travelling to New Zealand later this month. We reassure the fans that CSA has the utmost respect for the Test format as the pinnacle of the game we love.

“The dates for this tour were set when the Future Tours Programme (FTP) for 2023-2027 was finalised in 2022. The window for the SA20 had not been determined at that stage. Once it became apparent that there would be a clash, we made every effort to find another mutually suitable time-slot for this 2 Test series in consultation with New Zealand Cricket.

“Regrettably the constraints imposed by the global cricket calendar rendered this impossible, as the games must be played before April 2025 as part of the World Test Championship.

“We commend Head Coach, Shukri Conrad and his staff for preparing the selected players for this tour, and we are confident that they will represent the Proteas badge with honour. We wish them all the very best. It is an opportunity to demonstrate the depth of talent that we have in South Africa.

“Our schedule for the remainder of the FTP has been managed to ensure that there will not be any further clashes between our bilateral commitments and the SA20. CSA remains fully committed to international cricket and to strengthening the SA20, a tournament that was initiated by us to help grow and sustain the game.”

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TOUR ITINERARY

Warm-up match

29-31 January – 11:00 (NZ time)

New Zealand XI v South Africa – Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Lincoln University  

Test series

4-8 February – 11:00 (NZ time)

New Zealand v South Africa – Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui 

13-17 February – 11:00 (NZ time)  

New Zealand v South Africa – Seddon Park, Hamilton