Anrich Nortje feels excitement ahead of possible return to Proteas squad for Test matches

Proteas fast bowler Anrich Nortje may feature on the field in white attire for the first time in almost three years during the start of the Australian Test series. Nortje last played Test cricket with the red ball 1306 days ago, when Proteas was ranked fourth. Since then, the team has played 13 more matches and become World Champions of Test Cricket.

During the period when Nortje exclusively played in baseball formats, specifically T20, he bowled a maximum of four overs in leagues around the world. His last such appearance was in the ETPL tournament, where he played for the Rotterdam Dockers team in Dublin and The Hague.

Therefore, Proteas coach Shokri Conrad called up the 32-year-old player on Monday to participate in possibly the biggest and most intense Test series against the Australians, who rank first in the world rankings.

Squad Announcement

The Proteas men's selection committee announced a preliminary squad of 18 players for the first Dafabet match against Australia, scheduled from October 9 to 13 at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead stadium in Durban.

The main reason for calling up Nortje is that Proteas is experiencing a 'fast bowler injury pandemic,' with Kagiso Rabada in doubt, and Lungisi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka, Ottniel Bartman, and Nandre Burger currently unable to play.

Secondly, Conrad believes that the 'Uitenhage Express' still possesses genuine raw pace capable of intimidating opponents. Conrad stated: 'Anna and I talked for a long time. He mentioned during the T20 World Cup that he still wants to be available for all formats. So I just thought it was a great opportunity to bring Anna in as early as possible to assess where he is. And yes, it's just great to have someone of his level and speed, which is more important, available to us.'

The question arises whether Conrad is truly confident that Nortje, who has suffered from various injuries including stress fractures in his back, as well as hip and finger problems, can withstand the intensity of Test cricket, where he will be required to bowl the second and third overs?

Conrad explained: 'Anna is as meticulous and professional as one could imagine. I have tables detailing all the work he has done. Obviously, we need to compare the loads and the intensity with which they play in international cricket. So I am very confident that he has done all the necessary work. We just need to look at the intensity of all this. But again, we will have a long summer of Test matches and ODIs, and we need to decide if a Test match is the best way to return to the international circuit, or perhaps allocate something else. But yes, I am very pleased with how Anna handled all this work, and he kept us updated on all the loads.'

Conrad also expressed caution regarding Rabada's availability for the first match at Kingsmead on October 9, noting that the availability of his key attacking player would depend on how he performs in the two-day intra-squad match. He said about Rabada: 'There are smart people around who are much smarter than me in terms of science and data and everything else. So, obviously, we will take all these things into account: how he feels, whether he is healthy, which is the starting point. But also, will he be able to match the intensity required by the Test match? We will give him as much time as possible. But we never want to make a decision out of desperation. So we will act reasonably.'

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad included Anrich Nortje in the preliminary list of 18 players announced on Monday for the Test series against Australia. Conrad was looking for genuine pace and decided to add Nortje to this squad before the first match in Kingsmead.

Kagiso Rabada also made it into the extended squad, but it remains unclear whether this key Proteas attacking player will be able to participate following a hamstring injury sustained last month. Additionally, fast bowlers Gerald Coetzee and Dane Paterson were included in the squad.

The return of Nortje is of particular interest. The 32-year-old athlete has not played Tests since Conrad's first tournament as a red-ball coach against the West Indies in February 2023. Since then, he has also not featured in first-class matches, focusing exclusively on T20 formats.

Squad Announcement - First Test

The South African men's selection committee announced the preliminary squad of 18 players for the first Dafabet Test against Australia, scheduled from October 9 to 13. The match will take place at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead stadium in Durban.

Conrad explained the reason for forming the preliminary squad by stating that there is a long preparation period before the first Test, during which the group will gather in Durban on October 1. Training days, a two-day intra-squad match, and scenario-based training are planned as part of the preparation, allowing the group and conditions to be assessed before finalizing the 15 players.

He noted that having a larger group of bowlers gives the team flexibility to cover all needs. Next week will help determine the most suitable combinations for these conditions. The team also wants to give Kagiso Rabada the opportunity to be available for selection in the first Test, and the two-day match will provide a clearer picture of his readiness to play.

Due to uncertainty regarding Kagiso Rabada's health, as well as hamstring injuries to Otteniel Bartman, Kwena Maphaka, and Lungisi Ngidi, South Africa's fast bowling reserves were depleted during the recent ODI series.

Undisclosed Dolphins batter Marcus Ackermann also received his first Test call-up after an impressive run of performances for South Africa A. The 30-year-old player scored over 1000 runs in the last 10 first-class matches for the team with an average of 82.92, including four centuries and a career-best score of 256 against Bangladesh A in August.

Conrad added that they retained the core group in the batting plan. He highly praised Marcus's contribution, noting that his leadership of the 'A' team and his batting performances earned him this opportunity. The team looks forward to his participation under Test conditions.

The preliminary Proteas men's squad for the first Test against Australia, taking place from October 9 to 13 in Kingsmead, includes: Temba Bavuma (captain), Marcus Ackermann, David Bellingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Vianna Mulder, Senurana Mutusami, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Kyle Verreyn.