Temba Bavuma out injured as South Africa announce squad for England tour

Keshav Maharaj and David Miller will lead the ODI and T20I squads, respectively, in his absence

Temba Bavuma is the most notable absentee from South Africa's touring party for their multi-format series against England later this summer.

The skipper has been ruled out due to an elbow injury sustained when diving for a single in the fourth T20I against India. While surgery is not necessary, Bavuma will be out for around eight weeks. He is expected to be available for the World Cup in October.

Keshav Maharaj and David Miller are set to lead the ODI and T20I squads, respectively, in his absence.

Rilee Rossouw receives his first call up to the T20I squad since October 2016, having led the run-scoring charts in South Africa’s domestic T20 competition last season. He has also accumulated the third-most runs in the Vitality Blast this year.

Joining him in the shortest format is 21-year-old Gerald Coetzee, who has received his maiden international call-up. Coetzee impressed for South Africa A against Zimbabwe in May, taking eight wickets at an average of 13 in four T20 matches.

^{Keshav Maharaj [Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images] and David Miller [Ashley Vlotman/Getty Images] will lead the limited-overs sides in Bavuma's absence}

Other returnees for the T20 side include Aiden Markram, who was ruled out of the recent India series due to a positive Covid-19 Test, and Andile Phehlukwayo. Tristan Stubbs retains his place after debuting in the subcontinent.

The ODI squad, who will play three 50-over matches that do not count toward the World Cup Super League, includes call-ups for Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Anrich Nortje, Lizaad Williams and Khaya Zondo, none of whom featured against Bangladesh in March. Kagiso Rabada is set to sit out this part of the tour to manage his workload.

Dean Elgar’s Test squad returns to full-strength, besides the absence of Bavuma, having been weakened during the series against Bangladesh due to clashes with the IPL season.

The six players who opted to head to India instead - Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Rabada, Markram and Rassie van der Dussen - have all been selected. 

Sarel Erwee is tipped to keep his place as Dean Elgar’s opening partner, while debutants against Bangladesh Glenton Stuurman and Zondo also retain their place in the squad. Simon Harmer, who recently took 14 wickets in a County Championship match for Essex, is picked alongside Maharaj as the two spinners in contention.

The full tour will last almost two months, from 19 July to 12 September, and includes three matches in each format against England and two T20Is vs Ireland.

Test Squad: Dean Elgar (c), Saral Erwee, Keegan Petersen, Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Khaya Zondo, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Duanne Olivier, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Lutho Sipamla, Keshav Maharaj, Glenton Stuurman, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje

ODI Squad: Keshav Maharaj (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Khaya Zondo, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreyne, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorious, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams

T20I Squad: David Miller (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, Rilee Rossouw, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorious, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gerald Coetzee