SA Playing XI Cape Town Test: Duanne Olivier to miss out? – Despite return to Test cricket for South Africa with four wickets against India in the 2nd Test, he is likely to be benched for the series decider. It’s not that he had an under-par performance. It is because South Africa want to secure the batting adding an all-rounder in Wiaan Mulder in Cape Town as Dean Elgar led side aims to deny Virat Kohli & Co their Final Frontier. Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Dean Elgar, who scored a match-winning unbeaten 96 in the final innings in Johannesburg, is confident that South Africa can pull it off in the 3rd Test in Cape Town, where the hosts have never lost to India.
SA Playing XI Cape Town Test: Duanne Olivier could miss out as South Africa to prefer all-rounder Wiaan Mulder
South Africa’s gamble of four seamers paid off in the 2nd Test. The only spinner Keshav Maharaj bowled only two overs in the match as a fragile Indian batting line-up collapsed in the first innings. The second innings was better as the wicket got easier. Two middle-order stalwarts Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara played patient innings.
As India eye maiden Test series win in South Africa, the hosts will be eager to stick to add an extra edge in batting that Keshav Maharaj failed to provide. Wiaan Mulder who played the first Test seems like the obvious choice to come in. But who does he replace?
Bigger role for Keshav Maharaj? – Keshav Maharaj seems to be the choice but he is expected to play a bigger role in Newlands. The left-arm spinner has had limited opportunities but he has shown in the past that he can be destructive too.
SA Playing XI Cape Town Test: Duanne Olivier could miss out as South Africa to prefer all-rounder Wiaan Mulder
South Africa Playing XI Cape Town Test:
1. Dean Elgar (captain)
2. Aiden Markram
3. Keegan Petersen
4. Rassie van der Dussen
5. Temba Bavuma
6. Kyle Verreynne (WK)
7. Marco Jansen
8. Keshav Maharaj
9. Kagiso Rabada
10. Duanne Olivier/ Wiaan Mulder
11. Lungi Ngidi
SA Playing XI Cape Town Test: Duanne Olivier could miss out as South Africa to prefer all-rounder Wiaan Mulder
SA Playing XI Cape Town Test: Duanne Olivier could miss out as South Africa to prefer all-rounder Wiaan Mulder
For Dean Elgar, it will be another gamble — stick to a fragile batting order or bolster it by losing an edge in pace.
As for the other positions, Proteas do not have much to tinker with. Aiden Markram will continue to open while Keegan Petersen after gritty knocks against India will have his No 3 sealed. Rassie van der Dussen will come at No 4. Limited overs skipper Temba Bavuma will bat at No 5 after troubling India in the first two Tests. With Quinton de Kock retiring from Test cricket, Kyle Verreynne will retain the gloves.
SA Playing XI Cape Town Test: Duanne Olivier could miss out as South Africa to prefer all-rounder Wiaan Mulder
South Africa Playing XI: Dean Elgar (captain), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier or Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi
SA Playing XI Cape Town Test: Duanne Olivier could miss out as South Africa to prefer all-rounder Wiaan Mulder
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