Centurion — Temba Bavuma will lead the Proteas in three-match ODI series England in Bloemfontein next week.
Bavuma's leadership of the Proteas' white-ball teams was under scrutiny after Cricket SA named Rob Walter (ODI and T20I) and Shukri Conrad (Test) coaches of the respective national teams last week.
PROTEAS SQUAD ANNOUNCEMENT 🚨
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) January 18, 2023
🔙 Sisanda Magala returns
👌 Coach Shukri Conrad will oversee the series
🗓️ 27 January - 1 February
Get your tickets now🎟️ https://t.co/op0CjweIP0#SAvENG #BePartOfIt pic.twitter.com/ShrDG0ljgf
But Proteas convenor of selectors Victor Mpitsang confirmed Bavuma would remain at the helm for the foreseeable future.
“The captaincy was not something that was touched on a lot [in the selection meeting], but we are quite happy with where [Bavuma] is at the moment,” Mpitsang said.
"He is in a good space. In the one-day format, he has a good record. We are quite happy with where he is at the moment," Mpitsang said.
Bavuma is not part of the current Betway SA20 tournament after not being picked up by any of the six teams at the auction last year. He is currently on holiday in Cape Town.
All-rounder Sisanda Magala, though, is part of the SA20 where he is excelling for the Sunrisers Eastern Cape. The 32-year-old's weight problems have been well-documented in the past which has seen him miss out on national squads previously.
However, Mpitsang has seemingly left that in the past with Magala earning a recall to the ODI squad due to his excellent performances in the domestic One-Day Cup the past two seasons, where he's played a key role in the Central Gauteng Lions winning the trophy in successive seasons.
"Sisanda has been a good performer in the last few years. We have had some fitness issues with him in the past and that's the only reason he was left out," Mpitsang said. "His consistency has been the reason why he has been selected."
There is, however, no place in the 16-man squad for fellow all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo despite the recent international retirement of Dwaine Pretorius. Western Province and Pretoria Capitals captain Wayne Parnell is the other all-rounder in the squad.
"Wayne has done exceptionally well domestically and for the Proteas. Marco provides extra pace. But it is not doom and gloom for Andile,” Mpitsang said.
Walter still has commitments in New Zealand with the Central Stags, but was consulted on the composition of the squad. Instead, Conrad will take charge of the ODI squad for the England series.
Mpitsang also resisted the temptation to include both in-form MI Cape Town openers Ryan Rickelton and Dewald Brevis.
"Ryan has performed really well in the last summer," Mpitsang said. "It's about where does he fit in at the moment. He is an opening batter. He has got good numbers. In a squad of 16, we just couldn't get him in.
"We have had a conversation before we pick the squad and the medical team made it clear that the risk is not as high as when we travel abroad."
Squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock (wkt), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen
Fixtures:
January 27, Bloemfontein (day-night)
January 29, Bloemfontein (day)
February 1, Kimberley (day-night)
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