The newly crowned ICC World Test Championship champion, South Africa, announced their playing XI for the first Test against Zimbabwe, starting on June 28. With regular skipper Temba Bavuma sidelined due to a hamstring injury, spin ace Keshav Maharaj takes the reins as Proteas captain.
But the real headline-grabbers are two rising stars who are set to make their much-anticipated Test debuts in Zimbabwe, and they are Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Dewald Brevis. At just 19 years old, Lhuan-dre Pretorius has already set domestic circuits on fire, averaging over 60 in first-class cricket.
The teenage sensation, who is known for his aggressive white-ball prowess at the top, will bat at No. 5. His selection in the playing XI shows South Africa’s next generation of batting firepower ready to shine in the absence of some of the key players due to workload management.
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On the other hand, Dewald Brevis, who is often dubbed “Baby AB” for his explosive style, has long been on the Test radar and is finally making his debut in the whites. The 22-year-old has been shining in the T20 leagues across the world, and he was even part of the South Africa squad for the Bangladesh series.
Brevis will bat at No. 6, and fans are eager to see how he will translate his fearless white-ball approach to the traditional format of the game. South Africa will have the new opening duo featuring Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi for the first Test against Zimbabwe.
The middle order features David Bedingham, dependable all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, and Kyle Verreynne, who adds experience and strength to the lower order. The stand-in captain, Maharaj, will lead the spin department, while the pace attack will be led by young guns Codi Yusuf and Kwena Maphaka, alongside Mulder and another all-rounder, Corbin Bosch.
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Here’s South Africa XI for the first Test against Zimbabwe:
Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder, David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj (C), Codi Yusuf, Kwena Maphaka.
? TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT ?Captain Keshav Maharaj has confirmed the Starting XI for our Proteas Men ahead of tomorrow’s 1st Test against Zimbabwe ???.A team ready to leave their mark in Bulawayo with flair and firepower ??.#WozaNawe pic.twitter.com/hvCSd0xkS0
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) June 27, 2025
Proteas rest big names, young guns set to shine in Zimbabwe
Meanwhile, Temba Bavuma was ruled out of the upcoming two-match Test series against Zimbabwe as he continues to recover from the hamstring injury he picked up during the recent ICC World Test Championship (WTC) Final 2025 against Australia at Lord’s.
Several senior players have also been rested, including Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi, so they have a largely inexperienced pace attack for the Zimbabwe tour. Young left-arm pacer Kwena Maphaka, who has played just one Test so far and taken three wickets, will get another chance to prove himself.
He will share the new ball duties with Corbin Bosch and Wiaan Mulder, both of whom featured in the WTC final 2025 against Australia at Lord's. Notably, the Proteas side crushed Australia by five wickets to lift the WTC title, ending their nearly three-decade wait for an ICC trophy.
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