Olivier named after India Tests; Rickelton and Magala receive their maiden call

By Talat Masood Dec 7, 2021, 15:43 IST

Duanne Olivier, who last played a Test for South Africa in 2019, was called up to South Africa's 21-man team for the three-game series against India. Glenton Stuurman and Prenelan Subrayen also got the nods, while Ryan Rickelton and Sisanda Magala received initial test calls.

After a break for the ODI series against the Netherlands, Kagiso Rabada, Quinton de Kock and Anrich Nortje are back in the squad for the important series as South Africa looks for a positive start to its ICC World Test Championship 2021-23 journey.

Olivier, who has taken ten Tests since his debut in 2017, returned to South Africa earlier this year after a stint as a Kolpak player and has been in hot shape this season. In the four top-rated games in the 4-day franchise series, the pacemaker bagged 28 wickets averaging 11.14, with 9 for 95 being his best in one game.

'Keeper batter Rickelton has scored two centuries - 117 against Boland and 159 against North West - to take his stand, while Stuurman impressed with seven wickets in the second unofficial Test against India. Erwee scored 163 for Dolphins against Titans, while pacemaker Magala bagged 15 wickets in three top notch matches before making his ODI debut against the Netherlands. Lungi Ngidi will return to the side after recovering from COVID-19 as the think tank's pick has provided many pace options.

Squad: Dean Elgar (captain), Temba Bavuma (vice-captain), Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Kagiso Rabada, Sarel Erwee, Beuran Hendricks, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Glenton Stuurman, Prenelan Subrayen, Sisanda Magala, Ryan Rickelton, Duanne Olivier.

Dean Elgar will lead the squad while Temba Bavuma will be his deputy, with the series slated to begin on December 26th. "As selectors, we look forward to the return of Test Cricket. This format is very important and relevant to CSA and" being alive is a priority for the organization, "said Victor Mpitsang, Convenor of Selectors.

"We are very much looking forward to the return of Dean Elgar and his men. It has been a few months since we last saw them dominate the West Indies. We are confident in the team we have selected and we believe fully and all of the support. " the talent we have unearthed and cultivated over the past few seasons, and giving the players the support they deserve after having consistently performed well over an extended period of time.

"This series of tests is also important to get some points on the Test Championship standings and we are confident that this group will pick up where they left off and give us a good show on home soil."

The first test will be played in Centurion, while the next two games will be played in Johannesburg and Cape Town. The series will be followed by three ODIs from January 19.