Proteas make changes to squad as Petersen and Hendricks withdrawn

Keegan Petersen and Beuran Hendricks have been withdrawn from the Proteas squad that will take on Sri Lanka in two Tests.
Ahead of the first Test starting at Centurion on Saturday, the pair were withdrawn following Tuesday’s Covid 19 tests, although CSA failed to explain the reason for the changes to the squad or provide the names of players who tested positive.
Three rounds of testing were conducted, starting on Thursday last week, and no further positive tests have been confirmed.
As such, the South Africans will be able to enter the bio-bubble, although the situation at in the Sri Lanka camp remains unclear.
Petersen was unlikely to have cracked the nod for selection regardless, but Hendricks was likely to play since his left-arm seam and swing bowling brings welcome variety to the sometimes predictable South Africa attack.
Uncapped Glenton Stuurman has been tipped to take Hendricks’ place in the line-up, although Dwaine Pretorius is also an option.
The hosts will definitely be without Kagiso Rabada, who was ruled out of the series earlier with a groin injury.
Covid-19 tests and bio-bubbles are at the centre of attention after following the abandoned England white-ball tour of South Africa earlier this month.
In addition, two of the country’s three matches in the premier first-class competition was called off over positive tests. In fact, one game was off on the first day.
After Raynard van Tonder, Lutho Sipamla and Pretorius were called up last week, a total of 10 players in the Proteas group were exposed to Covid-19.
South Africa Test squad: Quinton de Kock (captain), Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Rassie van der Dussen, Anrich Nortje, Glenton Stuurman, Sarel Erwee, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne, Migael Pretorius, Dwaine Pretorius, Lutho Sipamla, Raynard van Tonder
Latest
-
News
Heather Knight renews call for five-day Tests after South Africa draw
The last women’s Test to end in a victory either way was in 2015.
-
News
Rain forces draw between England and South Africa in Taunton Test
Heather Knight’s side had looked to close in on victory on the final day.
-
News
England’s hopes of rare home Test victory dashed by bad weather at Taunton
Play against South Africa was eventually called off after four rain delays.
-
News
Workload of bowlers could be a game-changer, reveals Ben Stokes
The England captain has admitted he deliberately pushed his team-mates to the limit at Headingley.
-
News
Q&A: Is Jos Buttler the right man for England white-ball captaincy?
Buttler has been confirmed as Eoin Morgan’s successor in the job.
-
News
Jos Buttler takes over from Eoin Morgan as England’s limited-overs captain
Morgan announced his retirement from international cricket on Tuesday.
-
News
Dom Sibley to return to Surrey from Warwickshire at end of the season
Sibley has played all of his 22 Tests since joining the Bears.
-
News
James Anderson returns for England’s Test against India
Sam Billings also comes in as Ben Foakes and Jamie Overton miss out on the Edgbaston contest.
-
News
England name Sam Billings and James Anderson in XI for Test against India
Billings was drafted in at short notice for his second Test appearance against New Zealand last week as a Covid substitute for Ben Foakes.
-
News
Temporary stand collapses ahead of second day between Sri Lanka and Australia
Cricket Australia confirmed no one was underneath the small makeshift seating area.