Aiden Markram will make his debut for South Africa (SA) in the first Test against touring Bangladesh next week after the 22-year-old was selected to open the batting alongside Dean Elgar. Markram's teammate from the Under-19 World Cup-winning side of 2014, all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo, could also debut in Potchefstroom as the Proteas grapple with injuries to several key players, source cricket website.
Although Elgar has been a reliable presence at the top of South Africa's order, identifying his best partner became difficult after Stephen Cook lost form at the start of the year. Cook was replaced by Theunis de Bruyn for the final Test of the three-match series against New Zealand in March, before Heino Kuhn took over the duties for the four-match series in England.
Kuhn's struggles in that series, when he failed to record a half-century, left his place in doubt for the Bangladesh series, and his omission was confirmed when he failed to recover from an injury picked up in the final Test at Old Trafford. With Cook making just 20 in his first innings of the new season for the Lions, the selectors opted to look to the future by picking Markram, who was part of the South African touring squad in England.
"Aiden has been knocking on the door for some time now," South Africa's selection convenor Linda Zondi said. "He gained valuable insight into the Proteas team culture during the tour of England and he has shown maturity beyond his years, having captained South Africa to victory in the Under-19 World Cup and as captain of the South Africa A four-day side."
While Markram's form and record have suggested that he is ready to step up to Test cricket - after 33 first-class games, he has five centuries and averages 42 - Phehlukwayo may be pushed into it by circumstance. The 21-year-old has already made his mark in international limited-overs cricket, but has enjoyed less success in the longer format, averaging 18 with the bat and 35 with the ball in 26 first-class matches.
Nevertheless he is seen as a future all-rounder in all formats, and the injuries to Vernon Philander and Chris Morris left South Africa short on options. Although Wayne Parnell has been named in a 13-man squad despite not playing for the Cobras this week, he will undergo a fitness test next week to determine whether he is up to the rigours of Test cricket. Nineteen-year-old Wiaan Mulder will stand by as cover for Parnell.
"The inclusion of Andile and Wayne provides the necessary all-rounders to give options as concerns the balance of the starting XI," said Zondi. "The selection of some younger players is part of the process to build for the future and at the same time maintain our hard core of experience."
The squad has only been selected for the first Test, and it is hoped that Philander could be available for the second match in Bloemfontein on October 6. Philander is expected to turn out for the Cobras in the second round of Sunfoil Series fixtures in a bid to prove his fitness.
South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (captan), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Duanne Olivier, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo and Kagiso Rabada. bss
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