At least one player managed to leverage the ill-fated Proteas Test tour to New Zealand when a squad that wasn’t even second-string was well beaten by the Black Caps.
For one Proteas veteran, that tour has at least proven a positive as Dane Piedt looks to have extended his Test career after being called up again for the trip to the West Indies.
South Africa have named a squad for the two World Test Championship matches against the West Indies with few surprises.
It is perhaps a little shock that Piedt and Dane Paterson have been retained from the tour to New Zealand alongside David Bedingham.
Piedt gets a run in the West Indies with Simon Harmer engaged in the English domestic scene with Essex across their season.
He only played the second Test of the New Zealand tour but his eight-wicket haul in that match has kept him in the discussion.
Whether he plays in the West Indies will likely come down to what the pitches look like but with Wiaan Mulder potentially batting in the top six, the Proteas could field two spinners in Piedt and Keshav Maharaj.
Aiden Markram’s part-time off-spin probably won’t be enough of an option for skipper Temba Bavuma as back-up to Maharaj in either Test but the pitch in Providence is well known for taking turn and the West Indies will probably play two spinners at least with Roston Chase batting in the top six giving them off breaks and left-armer Akeal Hosein taking them the other way. Leg-spinner Gudakesh Motie is rarely used in the ultimate format and has played just one Test this year.
South Africa’s pace attack risks being a bit samey if left-arm quick Nandre Burger doesn’t play or struggles at all.
Piedt has shown that he can create pressure with men around the bat and against a team more comfortable against quicker stuff, he could just be the ace up the Proteas’ sleeve.
He should also be commended for taking his chance in New Zealand when many other players were unable to use the platform to make a statement.
Proteas Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c, Lions), David Bedingham (WP), Matthew Breetzke (Warriors), Nandre Burger (WP), Gerald Coetzee (Titans), Tony de Zorzi (WP), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Titans), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Dane Paterson (WP), Dane Piedt (Knights), Kagiso Rabada (Lions), Tristan Stubbs (Warriors), Ryan Rickelton (Lions), Kyle Verreynne (WP).
