South Africa select 3 rookies, announce Elgar as back-up captain for Tests

Photo: CSA

Johannesburg: Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Monday announced three uncapped players in their Test squad for the England tour, starting from July 6.

All-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, wicket-keeper batsman Heino Kuhn and Aiden Markram have been included in the South African squad, which is led by Faf du Plessis.

Phehlukwayo and Kuhn have replaced pace bowler Wayne Parnell and batsman Stephen Cook respectively whereas Makram has been included to provide batting cover for batsman Faf du Plessis, who is expecting a child.

Should Du Plessis miss the first Test then Dean Elgar would step in as the leader of South Africa.

Phehlukwayo has earlier featured in 17 One Day International and seven Twenty20 International (T20I) matches for his side. Whereas Kuhn has played in seven T20I.

"CSA today named Multiply Titans opening batsman, Heino Kuhn, all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo as uncapped players in the Standard Bank Proteas Test squad for the four-match Test Series against England, starting next month," CSA said in an official statement.

"They take the places of Stephen Cook and Wayne Parnell respectively from the squad that played the last series against New Zealand," it added. 

Makram is still to get International experience, having scored 1007 runs in a List A career with an average of 41.95.

"A third uncapped player, Aiden Markram of the Multiply Titans, has also been included to provide batting cover for Faf du Plessis," the statement said.

The team will travel in the absence of their skipper for the warm-up matches and first Test. Deal Elgar has been named as the stand-in captain of the side.

"Dean Elgar will captain the side in the warm-up match and will stand in for Du Plessis in the first Test match if the latter is not available for selection," CSA said.

Squad: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Jean Paul Duminy, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.