After eight months and three series, the Proteas pacer is on the brink of returning to red-ball cricket through the World Test Championship final.”
It’s been a long wait for Lungi Ngidi. The last time he played a Test match was eight months ago, and in between, South Africa played three series without him. Now, the experienced pacer has been recalled to the squad for the WTC final against Australia.
The final of the third cycle of the World Test Championship will begin on June 11 at the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground. South Africa announced a 15-member squad for the big game on Tuesday.
From the squad that faced Pakistan most recently, top-order batter Matthew Breetzke and young pacer Kwena Maphaka have been dropped. Despite recovering from injuries, pacers Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger haven’t made the cut either. Express quick Anrich Nortje is also absent from the squad.
Ngidi last played a Test during the West Indies tour in August last year. Though he was included in the Test squad for the Bangladesh tour later, he didn’t get a game.
Looking ahead to a packed schedule, Ngidi was given a “conditioning break” during the T20I series against India. During that break, routine medical assessments by the board revealed a groin injury.
That injury ruled him out of home Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Ngidi returned to action in early 2024 through white-ball formats and even represented South Africa in the Champions Trophy. He also played one IPL match before the tournament was suspended.
There were earlier concerns about South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada being unavailable for the final due to a doping test result. However, his one-month suspension ended on May 3, clearing him to join the squad.
Dan Patterson, who impressed in recent home series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, has retained his place. He is currently playing county cricket for Middlesex in England.
The rest of the six-man pace battery includes Wiaan Mulder, Corbin Bosch, and Marco Jansen. Spin duties will be shared by the experienced Keshav Maharaj and all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy.
South Africa’s batting line-up remains unchanged, featuring regulars like captain Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne, and David Bedingham.
In the 2023–25 WTC cycle, South Africa played 12 matches, winning 8 of them. After drawing 1-1 against India, they suffered a 2-0 defeat in New Zealand. But they bounced back with a 1-0 win in the West Indies, followed by clean sweeps over Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. With a points percentage of 69.44%, Bavuma’s side topped the standings and qualified for the final for the first time.
Australia, the defending champions, also announced their squad for the WTC final on the same day.
South Africa’s Test squad for the WTC Final
Temba Bavuma (captain), Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Kyle Verreynne, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, Senuran Muthusamy, Dan Patterson.
