David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne have been dropped from the Test team for the upcoming two-match series against Bangladesh. The Proteas recently defeated Australia 2-1. Captain Temba Bavuma will lead the 15-member squad, with the team reclaiming the No.1 spot in the ICC Test rankings after their impressive performance.

The series opener against Bangladesh is scheduled to be played at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg from November 15 to 19, with the second five-day game at SuperSport Park in Centurion from November 23 to 27.

Bedingham was left out despite scoring 49 and 46 in the opening Test in Durban, before amassing a fifty in the series decider in Cape Town. Verreynne was a part of the first Test, accumulating 13 and 1, before Ryan Rickelton replaced him for the remainder of the series.

The Proteas have recalled Tony de Zorzi, who has recovered from the hamstring injury. Batter Zubayr Hamza has been selected.

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje will be making a comeback after being sidelined with an injury. Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Dane Paterson and Corbin Bosch are the other pacers in the squad. Wiaan Mulder is an all-round option. Lungi Ngidi was not considered as he is undergoing rehabilitation.

South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad wants his players to carry the momentum from the Test series win over Australia at home. He would back his pacers. “Traditionally, surfaces on the Highveld favour pace and bounce, although we have seen the Wanderers offer some assistance to spin in recent times. So with that in mind, there will be greater focus on our seam-bowling options,” Conrad said.

South Africa won the last home series against Bangladesh 2-0 in 2022.

South Africa thumped Australia despite losing the opening Test by 214 runs in Durban. They secured an innings and 31-run victory in Gqeberha before sealing the last game by 176 runs at Newlands in Cape Town. Chasing 288, Australia were bowled out for 111, with spinner Simon Harmer taking six wickets.

South Africa squad for Bangladesh series

Temba Bavuma (captain), Marques Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada and Ryan Rickelton.