Corbin Bosch could make his international debut on his home ground – and the old stomping ground of his late father, former national team fast bowler Tertius – after earning a maiden call-up to the Proteas Test squad for the upcoming two-match series against Pakistan.
The opening match of the series, starting on Boxing Day, will be played at Centurion, before the much-anticipated New Year Test at Newlands.
One victory in either of the two Test matches will secure the Proteas’ passage to the World Test Championship final at Lord’s next year.
A spate of injuries to the leading fast bowlers in the country, which includes Lungi Ngidi, Nandré Burger, Gerald Coetzee and Lizaad Williams, has seen Bosch being thrown into the mix.
Bosch’s late father Tertius – who also played his cricket out of Centurion for Northern Transvaal during the 1980s and early 1990s, before joining Natal in Durban – played in the Proteas’ first Test upon South Africa’s return to international cricket against the West Indies at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados in 1992.
Proteas red-ball coach Shukri Conrad has been monitoring Bosch’s form for a period of time, having had lengthy discussions with Titans assistant coach Albie Morkel, and has certainly been impressed with the overall package.
Conrad also spent time at the SA Invitational XI match against the England Lions down in Cape Town last week, where Bosch caught the eye again.
“His all-round ability with both bat and ball adds depth, and his pace brings an extra bite to our attack. So, we’re excited to see him make that step up to Test cricket,” Conrad said yesterday.
“He adds so much to our attack. On the highveld, we need a little bit of pace, and Corbin provides that. It (SuperSport Park) is his home ground if he gets to play. And he’s in top form. He’s doing well domestically.
“He had a really good outing against the England Lions last week that I managed to catch a glimpse of.
“He’s matured nicely from when I last saw him when he was with the (national) academy with me a couple of years ago, and he’s turned into a really good cricketer.”
The chances of the 30-year-old adding to the Bosch family legacy with a Test debut at Centurion hinges largely on the fitness of Wiaan Mulder.
The Lions all-rounder broke a finger in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead last month, and has not played since.
He has, though, been included in the 16-man squad announced yesterday with Cricket SA stating that he is currently in the last phase of his rehabilitation.
It is not only the fast bowlers who Conrad is sweating over, with first-choice spinner Keshav Maharaj also struggling with a groin strain.
Maharaj was a late withdrawal from the first ODI against Pakistan at Boland Park in Paarl on Tuesday, and had a scan yesterday to ascertain the full damage.
“Keshav Maharaj has been ruled out for the remainder of the One-Day International series against Pakistan after scans revealed a left adductor strain,” Cricket SA said this morning.
“He will return home to Durban for rehabilitation, and will be reassessed ahead of the first Test against Pakistan.
“Bjorn Fortuin has been named as his replacement for the final two ODIs.”
Conrad has named all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy as the only other specialist spinner in the squad, but has indicated there could be a change, depending on Maharaj’s recovery.
“We’ll see how severe it is, whether it’s only potentially the first Test (he misses) or both Test matches,” Conrad said.
“Based on the outcome of that, we’ll do the necessary.
“Once I get the results of the scan, I’ll be in a better position to either replace (or) chat to the other coaches, and make up my mind on the back of that.”
Conrad has shown previously that he is not averse to playing an all-pace attack at SuperSport Park – as he did against India last year.
However, Maharaj is one of captain Temba Bavuma’s premier lieutenants within the team, and his tactical acumen is an important part of the Proteas’ make-up.
“Kesh is obviously one of the senior players in the side. He is a great sounding board. He’s got a huge amount of experience, and he’s such a calming influence in the change-room as well,” Conrad said.
“And he’s an excellent spinner. Him, KG (Kagiso Rabada) and thankfully we’ve got Marco (Jansen) back – they’re really the triumvirate that will ensure that we get the bulk of the 20 wickets we need to win a Test match.”
Proteas Test Squad
Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.