Proteas expect Nortje to return for the second Test against Bangladesh

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has provided an update on injured fast bowler Anrich Nortje ahead of the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series against Bangladesh.

Nortje injured his groin during the second Test of the recently completed three-game series at home against Australia, with the right-armer recently returning to training ahead of the opening match of the Bangladesh series that commences in Johannesburg on Sunday.

While Conrad admitted that first Test probably comes too soon for Nortje to feature in, the South Africa coach expects to have the tall 32-year-old available for the second contest with Bangladesh at Centurion from 23 November.

"He went for the scan at St George's during the Test match and it revealed nothing sinister. It wasn't as bad as initially anticipated and didn't require anything out of the ordinary either, just a little bit of rest and then some rehab," Conrad said.

"He'll definitely be in the frame for one of the Test matches here, possibly the second one. From a medical point of view, there was nothing wrong and he's recovered well. He's started training early enough. He's building up his loads as we speak and he should be good to go by the second Test."

South Africa have a strong pace attack to consider with Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Dane Paterson, Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch all in the 15-player squad for the Bangladesh series, with Conrad ruling out the potential of the Proteas not including a spinner in their bowling attack for the series opener.

Conrad also indicated he was still tossing up whether to utilise Tony de Zorzi or Zubayr Hamza in the crucial No 3 batting position against Bangladesh, with the duo in line to replace David Bedingham after he was dropped at the end of the Australia series despite the fact the Proteas won the series to move up to second place on the World Test Championship standings.

“We've tried a few players in that No 3 spot, David was the last one. The last thing I want to do is create ... what would look like from the outside ... as if it's a bit of a revolving door in the No 3 position. It definitely isn't that,” Conrad said.

“I want to settle the batting order … I've heard the word 'ruthless' being bandied about because it looks like we’re giving guys two or three opportunities and - if they do not succeed - out and that's definitely not the case.

“Sometimes you've just got to get the best players in the side first. We're going to give these guys a good run now, don't want to be chopping and changing after every series, so I'll be very surprised if the batting top seven changes between now and the end of the English tour (start of 2027).”

Proteas Men’s Squad - Dafabet Test Series against Bangladesh

Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Marques Ackerman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Tony de Zorzi (YesPlay Cobras), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Zubayr Hamza (DP World Lions), Marco Jansen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Anrich Nortje (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Dane Paterson (YesPlay Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions).

Fixtures

First Test - Sunday, 15 November-Thursday, 19 November at 10am - DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

Second Test - Monday, 23 November-Friday, 27 November at 10am - SuperSport Park, Centurion