Faf du Plessis, Dale Steyn included in Test squad for home series against India

Dale Steyn missed out on playing his first game against Zimbabwe due to viral infections has been included in the Test squad for the upcoming home series against India. All-rounder Chris Morris has also regained full fitness and is included in the 15-man squad picked for the first game of the series to be played at Newlands, Cape Town.

South Africa Test Captain Faf Du Plessis also missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe as AB De Villiers was stand-in captain for the side. South Africa have not included a reserve keeper for the series opener as Quinton de Kock will be fit in time after the wicket-keeper suffered from a hamstring problem before the start of the game against Zimbabwe.

Morris has been out of action since series in England. He suffered a groin problem during South Africa’s domestic T20-competition and was not included in the squad for the one-off game against Zimbabwe. Dale Steyn has played a couple of T20 games followed by practice game against Zimbabwe. The 34-year old only need 5 wickets to surpass Shaun Pollock’ tally of 421 wickets in order to become leading wicket-taker for South Africa in Test Cricket.

South Africa has included another all-rounder as Andile Phehlukwayo has been included in the five-day setup. Keshav Maharaj did tremendously in the one-off game against Zimbabwe at Port Elizabeth. Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, and Morne Morkel are three front-line seamers who played the last game against Zimbabwe. Theunis De Bruyn is reserve batsman in the squad while Duanne Olivier is the man to be excluded from the list for the series.

South Africa’s Test Squad for the first game against India:

Faf du Plessis (captain), AB de Villiers, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Hashim Amla, Chris Morris, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Theunis de Bruyn, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn.