New Delhi: South Africa has unveiled a strong playing XI for its much awaited World Test Championship Final Clash against Australia, which is being billed as a final test. The match will start from Wednesday. Captain Temba Bavuma announced the lineup, which reflects a well -balanced squad packed deeply into both batting and bowling. This is South Africa’s first presence in a WTC final.Ryan Ryon Ricelton at the top of the batting order is the major run-scorer for South Africa in the WTC 2023-25 cycle. He is associated with Bavuma – not far behind in the scoring chart – with Aiden Markram and Triston Stabs.A remarkable selection number 3 is Vian Mulder – the continuity of his recent role in tests against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.Bavuma said, “The Mulder is quite young in that situation. But I think it has been played with the Mulder, and the way he has grown in the format of the red-goals in the last two years,” said Bavuma.“This is about giving him a lot of confidence, keep supporting him and just allows him to do what he does best.“He has an opportunity in a pressure position, but I think he can relax from the fact that people are supporting him. We just want to play his game.”While Keshav Maharaj slots as the only specialist spinner, the Proteus Paes attack includes Cagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen and Lungi NGD.Dan Patterson, who impressed against Pakistan during the last series of South Africa, was remembered. Bavuma explained the decision to take NGIDI instead.Bavuma said, “Perhaps it is one of the tough decisions. We see what Dane Patterson did for us by the end of the previous season.”“But it was greater than a strategic approach. Perhaps a slightly higher speed than lungi, it seems that it is slightly taller.“Lungi also has a better record, taking nothing from Patato. He has (NGDI) experience, he has been played here first, not a Pato.
“But I think he (NGIDI) will complement that bowling a little further. We have a man like Mulder, who can give us anything like Paito.“It was probably one of the difficult decisions we had to do.”South Africa Game XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Temba Bavuma (C), Triston Stabs, David Bedingam, Kyle Verrane (WK), Marco Jensen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Cash.
