The South African cricket team has announced its playing 11 for the World Test Championship (WTC) Finals against Australia at Lord’s, commencing June 11th. A key inclusion in the squad is Lungi Ngidi, who will join Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen as the pace attack’s third member under captain Temba Bavuma. This decision came as a surprise, as Ngidi replaces Dane Paterson, who has been a more regular presence for the Proteas in recent Test matches. The last Test match for Ngidi was in 2024 against the West Indies, where he took one wicket in the first innings but went wicketless in the second. The team selection also raises questions about the inclusion of Keshav Maharaj and whether Tony de Zorzi, the opener, would have been a better choice.
The announced playing XI is: 1. Markram 2. Rickelton 3. Mulder 4. Bavuma 5. Stubbs 6. Bedingham 7. Verreynne 8. Jansen 9. Maharaj 10. Rabada 11. Ngidi.