Amid the ongoing Test series between India and South Africa, Cricket South Africa has announced South Africa’s Test squad for the upcoming New Zealand starting next month. Titans batsman Neil Brand will captain the team against the Kiwis, while Keegan Petersen and David Bedingham, who are part of the SA vs IND Test series, will also tour New Zealand.

The two-match Test series is set to begin on February 4 at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui. Neil Brand led the South Africa A team against the West Indies A and helped his team win three three-match ODI series. Apart from Keegan Petersen and David Bedingham, Zubayr Hamza has also been included in South Africa’s Test squad against New Zealand.

The team misses players like Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee, Aiden Markram and Test team captain Temba Bavuma. Khaya Zondo has been brought into the team, whose experience could help the team win against New Zealand.

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad congratulated the players who were selected for the first time in the South African Test team. Conrad added that it is an honor for every player to play for his country.

Shukri Conrad said: “First I would like to congratulate the players who will be taking part in the Proteas tour for the first time. It’s a real honor to represent your country, so you should savor the moment. “The players chosen for this tour have every chance of challenging New Zealand and we have every confidence that they will do exactly that when we get to the first Test match at Mount Maunganui.”

“Most of these boys featured in the recent ‘A’ series against the West Indies where they showed they have what it takes against international caliber players. “That experience will certainly leave them in a better position for what we hope will be a Test series in New Zealand.”

Notably, there are six uncapped players in the team because the main players will participate in SA20 2024 when the competition coincides with the test series.

South Africa test team against New Zealand

Squad: Neil Brand (captain), David Bedingham, Ruan de Swardt, Clyde Fortuin, Zubayr Hamza, Tshepo Moreki, Mihlali Mpongwana, Duanne Olivier, Dane Paterson, Keegan Petersen, Dane Piedt, Raynard van Tonder, Shaun von Berg and Khaya Zondo.

The Proteas are currently playing India in the two-match Test series and won the first match at Centurion by an innings and 32 runs. The South African team will play the second match at Sahara Park Newlands in Cape Town from January 3.

South Africa will be led by opener Dean Elgar, who will play his final Test series against India. Elgar scored 185 runs during the first Test of the two-match series and scripted South Africa’s dominant victory.

However, the players selected for New Zealand were part of the ‘A’ tour against the West Indies and all the players have good experience of playing first-class cricket. The South African team is going through a rehabilitation phase and it will be a brilliant series against New Zealand to test new players.