Olivier, Morris added to South African Test squad against Australia

“Circumstances have forced us to name a large squad at this stage so that we can cover all possible options,” in a statement posted on Cricket South Africa website, CSA National Selection Panel Convener Linda Zondi said.

Zondi said, “Once we have finalised our playing XI we will release players to their franchises for the final round of the Sunfoil Series.

“We have retained the 15 players who produced an excellent performance to level the Test Series in Port Elizabeth. Olivier was the pick of our bowlers for South Africa A in their tour match against Australia while Morris has been in excellent form in domestic cricket, taking four wickets in an innings and making more than 150 runs, including a century, for the Multiply Titans in the Sunfoil Series against the log-leading Warriors,” concluded Zondi.

Kagiso Rabada was also included in the squad.

South African paceman  Kagiso Rabada was suspended for the remaining two matches of the ongoing four-Test series against Australia.

Kagiso Rabada will have his appeal against a Level 2 breach of the ICC Code of Conduct heard on Monday 19 March, read an ICC statement.

Michael Heron QC of New Zealand has been appointed as the Judicial Commissioner for the hearing, which will be held via videoconference.

Heron will then have 48 hours to arrive at a decision.

Rabada was suspended for the remaining two matches of the ongoing four-Test series after being handed three demerit points and a 50 per cent fine by ICC Match Referee Jeff Crowe for an inappropriate and deliberate shoulder contact with Australia captain Steve Smith on the opening day of the second Test in Port Elizabeth.

The conduct breach took Rabada’s demerit points to the threshold of eight points leading to the suspension.

He was subsequently handed another demerit point for a send-off given to David Warner in Australia’s second innings, taking his total demerit points to nine.

Standard Bank Proteas Test squad: Faf du Plessis (Multiply Titans, capt), Hashim Amla (WSB Cape Cobras), Temba Bavuma (WSB Cape Cobras), Quinton de Kock (Multiply Titans), Theunis de Bruyn (VKB Knights), AB de Villiers (Multiply Titans), Dean Elgar (Multiply Titans), Heinrich Klaasen (Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Multiply Titans), Morne Morkel (Multiply Titans), Chris Morris (Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (bizhub Highveld Lions), Lungisani Ngidi (Multiply Titans), Duanne Olivier (VKB Knights), Vernon Philander (WSB Cape Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (bizhub Highveld Lions).

Image: Chris Morris Twitter page