Proteas Squad Announced for WTC Final – Bavuma to Captain, Rabada Cleared
Cricket South Africa (CSA) has officially unveiled the 15-man Proteas squad that will represent the country in the highly anticipated ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia. The showdown is set to take place from 11 to 15 June at Lord’s Cricket Ground in London, marking the first time South Africa has reached the final in three WTC cycles.
Bavuma Fit to Captain Proteas Squad
The squad will be captained by Temba Bavuma, who has recovered from injury and is fit to lead. Bavuma played a crucial role during the league stage, where South Africa secured eight victories, one draw and three losses, finishing at the top of the table with a 69.44% points percentage — narrowly ahead of Australia’s 67.54%.
Rabada Back After Suspension
One of the biggest talking points is the return of pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada. Cleared to play following a one-month suspension due to a doping violation, Rabada will be central to South Africa’s bowling strategy in English conditions. Joining him in the pace department is Lungi Ngidi, who makes a welcome comeback to the Test setup after recovering from injury and last featuring in red-ball cricket in October 2024.
Strong and Balanced Bowling Unit
Youngster Kwena Maphaka misses out, making way for a pace unit that also includes Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder. This trio provides both seam firepower and all-round depth. Dane Paterson also finds himself back in the mix, while spinners Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy have been selected to offer variety on what is expected to be a traditional Lord’s pitch.
Conrad Confident in Squad Depth
Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad expressed confidence in the squad, praising the continuity and balance within the team. “I want to congratulate each player selected — it’s a special moment to be playing in the WTC final. Over the past 18 months, we’ve put in a great deal of effort to build a solid red-ball squad. Our success is built on consistent selection, and we’ve stuck with the core group who’ve taken us this far,” Conrad said.
He also highlighted the importance of the conditions in England, stating, “We’ve chosen a well-balanced squad tailored for what we expect at Lord’s. I’m especially happy to see Lungi back. His experience will be invaluable.”
Reliable Batting Core in Place
The batting unit features a blend of experience and youthful promise. Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and David Bedingham will form the top-order framework, while Kyle Verreynne has been named as the first-choice wicketkeeper.
Full Proteas Squad for WTC Final vs Australia
- Temba Bavuma (captain),
- David Bedingham,
- Corbin Bosch,
- Tony de Zorzi,
- Marco Jansen,
- Keshav Maharaj,
- Aiden Markram,
- Wiaan Mulder,
- Senuran Muthusamy,
- Lungi Ngidi,
- Dane Paterson,
- Kagiso Rabada,
- Ryan Rickelton,
- Tristan Stubbs,
- Kyle Verreynne
Build-Up Plans Ahead of Final
Before the final, the Proteas will hold a training camp in Arundel from 31 May and are scheduled to play a warm-up match against Zimbabwe from 3 to 6 June. They’ll then move to London on 7 June to finalise preparations for the marquee clash.
Also read: Kagiso Rabada Tests Positive for Cocaine – What Happens Next?
