Johannesburg: Former South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, who had a good Indian Premier League outing with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), has been recalled and named in a 24-man squad that will play England in a home T20I and One-Day International (ODI) series consisting of three matches each from November 27 to December 9.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been named captain in what is South Africa's first international series since the onset of COVID-19 at the start of the year.
du Plessis last played for South Africa in a T20I against Australia at home in February this year. He has not played an ODI since South Africa's last match of the 2019 World Cup in July last year. He was declared Man of the Match, having scored his 12th ODI century in a game that South Africa won at the end of a dismal campaign in the tournament. He was subsequently stripped of the captaincy in limited-overs and was dropped from the ODI squad that faced England in February.
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du Plessis's performance in the IPL could have played a part in his recall. He scored 449 runs at 40.82 in 13 matches, though CSK finished seventh and failed to qualify for the playoffs.
"With the bio-secure environment where movement in and out of the squad will be limited, we had to make sure that we have all our bases covered with the 24 players. It also gives the team the opportunity to play some inter-squad games just to make sure that they sharpen up those white-ball skills before the series start," South Africa Convenor of Selectors Victor Mpitsang said in a statement.
"This is an important season for the team, with an ICC T20 World Cup coming up late next year in India. I'm sure that the T20 series, in particular, is going to boast some explosive performances for cricket fans to enjoy at home," said CSA Director of Cricket Graeme Smith.
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South Africa squad:
Quinton de Kock (captain, Momentum Multiply Titans), Temba Bavuma (Imperial Lions), Junior Dala (Momentum Multiply Titans), Faf du Plessis (Momentum Multiply Titans), Bjorn Fortuin (Imperial Lions), Beuran Hendricks (Imperial Lions), Reeza Hendricks (Imperial Lions), Heinrich Klaasen (Momentum Multiply Titans), George Linde (Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Janneman Malan (Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras), David Miller (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Andile Phehlukwayo (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dwaine Pretorius (Imperial Lions), Kagiso Rabada (Imperial Lions), Tabraiz Shamsi (Momentum Multiply Titans), Lutho Sipamla (Imperial Lions), Jon-Jon Smuts (Warriors), Glenton Stuurman (Warriors), Pite van Biljon (VKB Knights), Rassie van der Dussen (Imperial Lions), Kyle Verreynne (Six Gun Grill Cape Cobras)
Itinerary:
Friday, 27 November: 1st T20I South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town
Sunday, 29 November: 2nd T20I South Africa v England, Boland Park, Paarl
Tuesday, 1 December: 3rd T20I South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town
Friday, 4 December: 1st ODI South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town
Sunday, 6 December: 2nd ODI South Africa v England, Boland Park, Paarl
Wednesday, 9 December: 3rd ODI South Africa v England, Newlands, Cape Town
