“It is also a pleasure to welcome Marco and Gerald to the Test squad. They have both worked incredibly hard during their conditioning programs and it is great to see them back, ready to contribute to the team.
“This time, we have named a squad of 14 instead of the usual 15 to allow players on the fringes of the team the opportunity to play first-class cricket for their respective provincial teams.”
There was no place for Dane Piedt from South Africa’s recent tour of Bangladesh. Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy are the two frontline spinners selected. The trio of Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson and Wiaan Mulder will complete the bowling options alongside Jansen and Coetzee.
South Africa are chasing their first appearance in the WTC final and need to win all four home Tests (two against Sri Lanka and two against Pakistan next) to secure a place in the title round. They could still do it, based on results elsewhere, with three wins out of four.
The two-Test series begins in Durban on November 27 before the teams move to Gqeberha for the second Test starting on December 5.
South Africa squad for test series against Sri Lanka
Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne
