South Africa will be led by Aiden Markram in the second Test against Zimbabwe, marking his first time captaining in first-class cricket.
Due to a left calf injury, South Africa’s stand-in captain, Keshav Maharaj, will miss the second Test against Zimbabwe. All-rounder Aiden Markram has been appointed to lead the team.
Last month, South Africa, fresh off their ICC Test Championship victory, rested many of their regular and experienced players for this two-Test series. Although captain Temba Bavuma was included, he was ruled out due to a hamstring injury suffered in the final. Maharaj led the Proteas in the first Test at Bulawayo, where South Africa took a 1-0 series lead with a commanding 328-run win.
In that match, Maharaj made history by becoming the first spinner in South Africa’s Test cricket to reach 200 wickets, taking three wickets in the first innings. He also scored a fifty with the bat in the second innings. However, on the third day while batting, he pulled a muscle in his left calf.
Cricket South Africa announced on Wednesday that Maharaj will return home for recovery. Left-arm spinner Senuran Muthusamy has been called up as his replacement.
Additionally, pacer Lungi Ngidi, who was expected to join for the second Test, has been released from the squad.
With Maharaj’s absence, the most experienced player in the South African side is now wicketkeeper-batsman Kyle Verreynne, who has played 26 Tests.
The second Test will begin next Sunday at the same Bulawayo ground. It will mark Markram’s 42nd Test as captain.
The 27-year-old all-rounder will be captaining a first-class side for the first time. So far, he has played 87 first-class matches, including 20 Tests. His only previous leadership experience came when he captained Leicestershire in the quarterfinal of the 2022 Royal London One-Day Cup against Kent.
Markram impressed in the first Test against Zimbabwe, taking four wickets in the first innings and scoring a century (147) in the second innings.
