Muthusamy recalled as South Africa name three spinners for Bangladesh Tests

Senuran Muthusamy has been recalled and Dane Piedt has got another go alongside Keshav Maharaj as South Africa named three spinners for their two-Test tour of Bangladesh in October. The squad, which South Africa red-ball coach Shukri Conrad said was “for the conditions we are expecting to greet us” also has Matthew Breetzke, the only uncapped member of the 15.
There were question marks over the tour, of two World Test Championship matches, because of the political unrest in Bangladesh in the recent past. But CSA gave the tour the go-ahead on Monday after its security assessment team conducted “an in-loco inspection” of Dhaka and Chattogram, the venues for the two Tests.

“I want to firstly thank both boards, Cricket South Africa and the Bangladesh Cricket Board, for ensuring the series goes ahead,” Conrad said in a statement. “Bangladesh is always a tough place to tour. They’ve become a formidable side at home and we have to be prepared for the challenge that awaits us. We have therefore chosen a squad for the conditions we are expecting to greet us when we get there.

“We have three frontline spinners and all of them have the ability to step up at any time they are needed. This is a great chance for someone like Senuran, who has potential to make a mark with both bat and ball. We are really looking forward to seeing what he can offer. Overall, we trust the depth and versatility in our squad to meet this challenge head-on.”

Paterson, 35, and the US-based Piedt, 34, memorably, went on South Africa’s Test tour of New Zealand at the start of the year, when South Africa could not send many of their first-choice players on tour because of the SA20.

They have been included, as has Breetzke, the highly rated 25-year-old top-order batter who has played only eight T20Is in his international career so far. But with Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, captain Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, and wicketkeeper-batters Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne in the mix, Breetzke might find it tough to make his Test debut in Bangladesh.

Also in the South Africa travelling party is Ashwell Prince, the batting coach. Having worked as Bangladesh’s batting coach in the past, Prince could be valuable to the South Africa management.

South Africa squad for Test series in Bangladesh

Temba Bavuma (capt), David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Kyle Verreynne (wk)

More to follow

Source: ESPN Crickinfo

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