Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is among several first-choice players rested for South Africa’s two-Test series against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.
Batsman Aiden Markram and all-rounder Marco Jansen have also been rested, while spinner Keshav Maharaj will captain the team in the absence of the injured Temba Bavuma. Rabada has also been rested for July’s T20I tri-series against Zimbabwe and New Zealand.
He took nine wickets in South Africa’s victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final in England earlier this month. Rabada has taken 58 wickets in 11 Tests against Australia.
“Australia like to come hard. So, I think as South Africans in general, when people come at us, we go back even harder. I think that is just the way we are,” Rabada was quoted as saying by Independent Media.
“If you look at a team like New Zealand, for instance, they come and greet you and say, ‘How is your mom? How’s your Dad?’
“And you think, these guys are so nice, and then all of a sudden, ‘Hey, we are a bit behind here. We had better catch a wake-up.’
“But with Australia, we just know. They send the heat. They will even go to the press and target someone. So, we’ll write that down, and then two days before the game is about to start, we’ll go, ‘You want to play. Let’s go.'”
Lions fast bowler Codi Yusuf and North West batsman Rubin Hermann are among several uncapped players selected for South Africa’s Test and T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe.