Aiden Markram and Heino Kuhn make it to the South Africa Test squad for England

Aiden Markram, Heino Kuhn alongside with the all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo have been named in the South African squad for the four-match Test series against England later next month.

The inclusions of the duo of Aiden Markram and Heino Kuhn have impressed immensely in the recently-concluded South Africa’s A tour of England. This spell could well mean the end of Stephen Cook’s Test Career at the top of the order, given he is dropped for the series. Left-arm seamer Wayne Parnell, who impressed in the English county earlier this year has been dropped for the new-comer Phehlukwayo.

Dean Elgar to lead in Lord’s Test?

Markram has been included as a batting cover for the right-handed top order batsman Faf du Plessis, who might give the First Test a miss following the birth of his child. Dean Elgar would lead the Proteas’ in the warm-up game and will stand as a skipper if Faf misses the flight on time.

‘Heino Kuhn has shown outstanding form for South Africa A on their recent tour of England which included a double century in the four-day match against Hampshire and a further century against the England Lions,’ commented CSA Selection Convener, Linda Zondi. ‘He certainly deserved his place on the consistent form which also includes back-to-back Sunfoil Series seasons.

Further, Linda Zondi commented on the form that the all-rounder Phehlukwayo is in, given his heroics in the second T20I of the three-match series. Zondi further wants the all-rounder to be the perfect cover for the right-arm seamer Vernon Philander while also commending Dean Elgar’s leadership skill.

The last time these two sides met, South Africa won the Tour 2-1, given the home advantage it had over the visiting English side. However, the Proteas have the upper edge over England in England, with the last two series going in the Proteas favour.

South Africa’s Test squad for the tour of England: Faf du Plessis (C), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, Heino Kuhn, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Duanne Olivier, Andile Phehlukwayo, Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada.