5 Players to watch in Proteas-Zimbabwe Test series in Bulawayo
Kwena Maphaka celebrates with his Proteas teammates after claiming his first Test wicket, Pakistan star Babar Azam, at Newlands last Sunday. Photo: AFP
The World Test Champions have not had much time to put their feet back up home after their heroics in England.
Shukri Conrad has, though, refreshed the squad with a group of youthful stars looking to push for a place in the starting XI.
Independent Media's Zaahier Adams picks five players that will hope to impress in Bulawayo.
Kwena Maphaka
The teenage fast bowler enjoyed a Test debut earlier this season in the New Year Test against Pakistan at Newlands, and was considered unlucky not to be selected in the 15-man travelling squad for Lord's with Conrad opting for Lungi Ngidi's experience instead.
But with regular new-ball bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen rested, and Ngidi unlikely to feature in the first Test, it is an ideal opportunity for the 19-year-old to show that he should indeed be part of the Proteas' future Test plans.
Matthew Breetzke
Conrad gambled on allrounder Wiaan Mulder at No 3 in the WTC Final, and while Mulder showed great temperament in the second innings at Lord's to build a partnership with centurion Aiden Markram, it is unlikely that 'Wessie' is the long-term solution at first-drop. In the absence of Markram, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs, Breetzke has the ideal opportunity to stake a claim for a spot in the top-order. He will be keen to show he is a better player than the duck he scored on Test debut in Bangladesh.
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