‌SA vs PAK | Mulder slotted at No. 3 as Proteas drop Centurion heroes for New Year’s Test

Having cemented their place for the 2023-25 World Test Championship Finals to be held at the Lord’s, London, the South African side have made notable changes for the second Test against Pakistan. The Temba Bavuma-led community will field without Tony de Zorzi, who sustained a left thigh strain and will be rested on precautionary terms. In his absence, Ryan Rickelton will open the batting with Aiden Markram who shone with the bat in both innings of the Boxing Day Test. As a result, Wiaan Mulder makes a fresh entry into the side and slotted at a new role of No. 3. 

Mulder has developed his batting, highlighted by a half-century and ton against Bangladesh in October-November 2024. He missed out on the first Test against Pakistan after sustaining an injury after the Durban Test against Sri Lanka. 

It is also worth noting that heroes of Centurion, Paterson, and Bosch have been dropped for the final Test of the series. The former bagged a fifer in the first innings and a lone wicket in the second. Meanwhile, Bosch, who made his debut in the previous game, scored an important 81 with the bat in the first innings while impressing with five wickets across two innings. Keshav Maharaj and Kwena Maphaka bolster their bowling department in the duo’s absence. 

South Africa are already qualified for the WTC Finals and will look to experiment with their bench strength in this Test against the Men in Green.

South Africa Playing XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Tristan Stubbs, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka.