South Africa Announces Zimbabwe Tri-Series Squad: Van der Dussen Captains as Nortje Injury Sidelines Pacer

South Africa has named its squad for the upcoming T20I tri-series in Zimbabwe, featuring the return of several key players but also notable absences. Rassie van der Dussen will captain the side, while experienced players like Nandre Burger and Gerald Coetzee are back in the fold. The squad also includes uncapped players such as Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Corbin Bosch, Rubin Hermann, and Senuran Muthusamy.

Anrich Nortje sidelined with a back injury © Getty

The tri-series will also mark the return of Rob Walter to the South African dugout, albeit in the opposition camp as coach of New Zealand. Shukri Conrad, South Africa's red-ball coach, will take charge of the white-ball side for this series, inheriting the role from Walter.

Van der Dussen's appointment as captain comes in the absence of Aiden Markram, who is among several senior players rested for the series. Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton, Kagiso Rabada, and Tristan Stubbs are also being given a break.

Conrad emphasized the importance of having South Africa's best players available as often as possible but acknowledged the challenges posed by the crowded modern cricket calendar. The decision to rest key players for the Zimbabwe series was made with an eye on the upcoming tours of Australia and England.

"The all-format players had Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home [in November and December]," Conrad said. "Then they had the SA20 [in January and February], then they went straight into an IPL that went on for a bit longer [from March to June]. Then we had the WTC final [at Lord's this month]. Their last few months have been chock-a-block."

Burger and Coetzee return from injury, offering a boost to the squad's pace attack. However, Anrich Nortje will be unavailable due to a stress-related back problem. This injury raises concerns about the long-term future of the fast bowler, who has been plagued by fitness issues throughout his career.

"It's the second or third stress reaction in his back," Conrad said regarding Nortje's injury. "So of course it's something to be concerned about. But there's still a long way to go to make a decision in terms of how we're going to go forward. We're definitely not going to draw a line through his name."

Conrad remains optimistic about Nortje's potential return, stating, "He's only 31, and we're going to give him every chance to get back on his feet and fight back. We're going to see how things develop and what the medical staff feel is the path forward and how it's going to look."

On a brighter note, Lhuan-dre Pretorius is set to make his mark on the international stage. Conrad praised the young player, saying, "He's a special breed, the type of player who announces themselves on the biggest stage. He did really well in the under-19 World Cup and he debuted in the SA20 and was phenomenal. He's played first-class cricket for the Titans, and he scored a hundred on debut and a hundred in the final. That says there's something special about him."

Pretorius has shown great promise, being the highest run-scorer for South Africa at the 2023 under-19 World Cup and this year's SA20. He has also impressed in first-class cricket, scoring centuries on debut and in a final.