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South Africa have made one change to their squad for the second Test against Australia, with Matthew Breetzke replacing Tristan Stubbs and Ryan Rickelton taking over the wicketkeeping gloves
Cricket South Africa named a 17-man squad on Thursday for the match at St George's Park in Gqeberha, which begins on Sunday with the hosts 1-0 down in the three-Test series.
Stubbs, who made 32 and 1 at Kingsmead as South Africa were beaten by 214 runs, is the only player to drop out. Breetzke returns on the back of a one-day series against the same opponents in which he made 171 runs, including a hundred in Durban.
Tony de Zorzi was not considered as he recovers from a left hamstring injury, while Kagiso Rabada, who sat out the first Test, has been retained and is in contention to play.
Head coach Shukri Conrad confirmed the single alteration when the squad was released. "There is one change to the squad, with Tristan Stubbs unfortunately missing out and Matthew Breetzke replacing him," he said.
The rest of the group is as it was in Durban: Temba Bavuma captains, with Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Rabada, Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne also named.
Conrad said the break between Tests had given his side room to reset. "We've had the opportunity to lick our wounds and now we must make sure we turn this ship in the right direction," he said.
The defeat at Kingsmead left South Africa third in the World Test Championship standings, behind Australia and New Zealand.
Breetzke's recall rests almost entirely on his form in the 50-over game. His 171 runs across the three ODIs against Australia included a century at Kingsmead.
"The fact that his ODI form is as hot as it is gave him an inside lane," Conrad said of the selection.
The coach was as interested in temperament as output. "More importantly, the attitude and the character that Matt brings and has, I think that will go a long way," he said.
The 27-year-old has played only two Tests, one in Bangladesh and one in Zimbabwe, and has not appeared in a first-class match since February.
The second part of the reshuffle is behind the stumps, where Ryan Rickelton replaces Verreynne as wicketkeeper. Verreynne stays in the 17.
That leaves South Africa with a question at the top, because Rickelton opened the batting in Durban, where he made a duck and two.
"With Ricks taking the gloves there are decisions to be made whether he does move down the order, or can continue opening the batting and taking the gloves," Conrad said.
If Rickelton moves down, Markram would need a new partner, with the uncapped Marques Ackerman and Breetzke the candidates in the squad.
Rabada missed the first Test with a hamstring problem and Bavuma has since said the fast bowler is fit and ready to return, though South Africa have not confirmed the XI.
His record against this opponent is the strongest argument for him: 58 wickets in 11 Tests against Australia.
Jansen, Nortje, Coetzee, Paterson and Bosch are the other seam options, with Maharaj, Harmer and Muthusamy the spinners named for a ground that has historically turned.
Australia have their own selection calls to make. Coach Andrew McDonald said Cameron Green, who missed Durban with an abdominal injury, was progressing well but still had checks to clear. "He's got a few things to go through in the next three, four days," McDonald said.
Reserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis, sidelined by a finger injury picked up in the ODI series, has avoided surgery. "Josh had a couple of hits during this Test match out the back of the nets during lunchtime and that's gone well," McDonald said. "It'll be more about the comfort with the splint and how that progresses."
Cooper Connolly, overlooked in Durban after a head cold, is also in contention, his spin a factor if Green is passed fit as a batter alone.
The second Test begins at St George's Park on Sunday, with the series closing in Cape Town from 27 October.
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