South Africa name Test squad for Bangladesh: De Zorzi and Hamza return, Nortje back — Ngidi still out
South Africa have named a 15-player squad for this month's two-Test home series against Bangladesh, with Temba Bavuma captaining the side that has just risen to No.1 in the ICC Test team rankings after beating Australia 2–1. Batters Tony de Zorzi (back from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the Australia series) and Zubayr Hamza (whose last Test cap came in New Zealand in 2024) return, and fast bowler Anrich Nortje is back after the groin injury that cost him the last Australia Test. Lungi Ngidi was not considered as he continues his rehabilitation. The first Test is at the Wanderers, Johannesburg, from 15 to 19 November; the second at SuperSport Park, Centurion, from 23 to 27 November.
Key points
- Squad of 15, Bavuma captain: Ackerman, Breetzke, Bosch, De Zorzi, Hamza, Harmer, Jansen, Maharaj, Markram, Mulder, Nortje, Paterson, Rabada, Rickelton (CSA; ICC; Reuters — identical lists).
- Returns: De Zorzi (hamstring) and Hamza (first squad since his 2024 New Zealand cap) in the batting group; Nortje (groin) back in a six-strong pace group. Ngidi not considered — rehabilitation continues.
- Fixtures: Wanderers, Johannesburg, 15–19 November; SuperSport Park, Centurion, 23–27 November. Squad assembles 11 November.
- Stakes: a WTC 2025/27 series — South Africa No.2 in the WTC standings (71.43%) and newly No.1 in the ICC Test team rankings after beating Australia 2–1 (ICC).
What happened
Conrad's reasoning, in CSA's announcement, is continuity with a Highveld accent: carry the momentum of the hard-fought Australia series into 'our next big assignment of the summer', with a greater focus on seam options because Highveld surfaces traditionally favour pace and bounce — though the Wanderers has also assisted spin in recent times. Bangladesh's quicks, he warned, will be effective in the same conditions.
The omissions are part of the story South African reporting will argue about: David Bedingham and wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne are among those left out, per the reporting around the announcement — the squad itself, above, is the settled fact.
Match facts — all verified
- ✓ VerifiedSouth Africa's 15-player squad for the Bangladesh Tests: Temba Bavuma (captain), Marques Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada and Ryan Rickelton. The squad assembles in Johannesburg on 11 November.ICC — Pacer back for South Africa's next WTC27 assignment (2 Nov 2026) · Cricket South Africa — Proteas squad for Test series against Bangladesh announced (2 Nov 2026) · Reuters — Batters De Zorzi, Hamza return to South Africa test squad (2 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedThe returns: Tony de Zorzi is back after the hamstring injury that kept him out of the 2–1 series win over Australia; Zubayr Hamza is recalled, his last of eight Test caps having come against New Zealand in 2024; Anrich Nortje returns after the groin injury that sidelined him from the last Australia Test, joining Rabada, Jansen, Paterson, Mulder and Bosch in the pace group. Lungi Ngidi was not considered for selection as he continues his rehabilitation from a hamstring injury.ICC — Pacer back for South Africa's next WTC27 assignment (2 Nov 2026) · Reuters — Batters De Zorzi, Hamza return to South Africa test squad (2 Nov 2026)
- ✓ VerifiedThe series: first Test at the DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 15–19 November; second Test at SuperSport Park, Centurion, 23–27 November. It is a World Test Championship 2025/27 assignment: South Africa stand No.2 in the WTC standings on 71.43 points percentage, Bangladesh fifth on 47.62 — while South Africa's Australia win has taken them to No.1 in the ICC Test team rankings. The last time the sides met in South Africa, the Proteas won 2–0.ICC — Pacer back for South Africa's next WTC27 assignment (2 Nov 2026) · Cricket South Africa — Proteas squad for Test series against Bangladesh announced (2 Nov 2026)