Matthew Breetzke: After Durban drubbing, South Africa drop Stubbs from squad; call up player with two Test experience and eye Rabada return | Cricket News
South Africa have called up Matthew Breetzke and left Tristan Stubbs out of their squad for the second Test against Australia in Gqeberha, coach Shukri Conrad said on Thursday.The changes are likely to bring a reshuffle in South Africa’s batting order for the Test, which starts on Sunday. Conrad also confirmed that Ryan Rickelton will take over as wicketkeeper. This could mean Kyle Verreynne is dropped, although he remains with the squad. Verreynne has not scored a Test half-century in his last 13 innings.The changes come after South Africa lost the first Test by 214 runs in Durban on Tuesday. Stubbs scored 33 runs across his two innings in the match at Kingsmead.Breetzke has played two Tests for South Africa, against Bangladesh in late 2024 and Zimbabwe last year. He has a first-class batting average of 37 and last played a first-class match in February. However, he scored a century in the first ODI against Australia last month.“Matt has been part of the squad before and the fact that his ODI form is as hot as it is gave him an inside lane and also, more importantly, the attitude and the character Matt brings, and has, will go a long way,” Conrad said.With Rickelton set to take the gloves, South Africa must also decide where he will bat. He could continue to open the innings while keeping wickets, as he has done before, or move down the order.“With Ricks (Rickelton) taking the gloves, there are obviously decisions to be made over whether he does move down the order or whether he can continue to open the batting and take the gloves, which he has done before,” Conrad said.“We’ll have a look at what the conditions are like, but there are a few things to consider before play starts.”Breetzke could now open alongside Aiden Markram. Tony de Zorzi, meanwhile, remains unavailable as he continues to recover from the hamstring injury he suffered during last month’s ODI series.South Africa are also expecting lead fast bowler Kagiso Rabada to return for the second Test. He missed the first match as a precaution because of a long-standing hamstring problem but is expected to be fit for Sunday’s game.Squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.
