1) South Africa
No better team to start this series with than the reigning test champions- The Proteas.
Tests
Being the World Champions now, Tests have been South Africa's strongest format for a while now, rankings as well as form suggests this.
1.
Aiden Markram - Would have considered shifting him to any of the white-ball teams for balance and captaincy, but after his performance in the WTC Final, he is a must-have in the test squad as opener.
2.
Ryan Rickelton - Rickelton is another all-format star but again should be retained in the Test Team to preserve a full-strength opening pair. Mainly because of the lack of experienced openers otherwise, who wouldn't be better picks for other formats anyway.
3.
Zubayr Hamza - Now at 3 we have someone from outside the regular test set-up. However Hamza has been in and around the Test Squad and averages 46 in domestic. With Stubbs far more valuable in the white-ball unit, he will be batting 3 here
4.
Temba Bavuma
- It is a no-brainer that Bavuma makes the test squad, for only ODI could even pose an argument but he is still miles ahead in red-ball cricket. Captain as well.
5.
David Bedingham - Plays only tests, so he is the sure-shot number 5 in this team, retained from the main squad.
6.
Kyle Verreynne - Again he is only a regular in test cricket, and no reason to change the regular test wicket keeper when he isn't so valuable in other formats.
7.
Wiaan Mulder - Mulder's best format would be red-ball too, so he is retained at Number 7 here as the all-rounder.
8.
Marco Jansen - While Jansen is another all-format star for SA, his test numbers are far superior to the white-ball formats, and he is a much better red ball bowler too. So with so many other options for the LOIs, makes complete sense to retain him here.
9.
Keshav Maharaj - Maharaj is the same case yet again, but is most valuable in tests. Without him, the team loses its lead spinner, which can be made up for far better in white-ball.
10.
Kagiso Rabada - Rabada is a world class bowler across formats, but I mean why would you not have him in the test side?
11.
Dane Paterson - Probably not the best option for the third quick in all scenarios, but for now, with our constraints- Paterson has more than done the job in Tests and it is his only format, so I will be keeping him here.
12.
Jordan Hermann - The top scorer in domestic FC competition, and probably a very good backup
13.
Neil Brand - was part of that second-string test side against NZ, played quite well
14.
Corbin Bosch - Adds more strength to the test pace bowling options, won't be required in other formats
15.
Dane Piedt - Backup spinner, plays only tests
So the Test Side looks strong, having retained most of its core as the most important format. Hamza and Paterson however will be interesting to see, and should work good.
ODIs
With the test team done, now with the left-overs, we look at South Africa's ODI team with the best possible balance.
1.
Tony de Zorzi - Backup batsman in Tests, De Zorzi was pushed out by Rickelton from the main XI, but ODIs remain his strongest format. He made a strong statement as the successor to de Kock against India in his debut series, and will be our opener number 1 here.
2.
Matthew Breetzke - Our second opener is the man who scored 150 on ODI debut, right before the Champions Trophy. Breetzke is good in T20s, but he had quite a strong start to his ODI career and he is more required here. Keeps wicket too
3.
Jason Smith - At No. 3 we have a fringe player in Jason Smith, he has played all of 4 international games but 3 of them were ODIs. He played against Ireland in 2024, and scored a 91 in one of the games, which makes this his "strongest" format technically, and he fills the hole here.
4.
Rassie van der Dussen
- Finally to pack some experience into the ODI team, who else but Rassie- it is clearly his best format, the one he has never been dropped from since his debut. He will be my captain here, and be the leading batter in the top order.
5.
Tristan Stubbs - Normally I would have him in the T20 side but based on requirements, and the player pool available, Stubbs will be making our ODI team. He has had a great start to his one-day career and is very good in List A, and is one of the best options left for this spot for the ODI side, so.
6.
David Miller - Another player being a toss-up between white-ball sides, but solely based on the pool available for both formats, we shift Miller here. Again, one of the few very experienced ODI players left to pick, and will be the finisher as well, with Klaasen retired.
7.
Andile Phehlukwayo - He's always been decent in the 50-over format, and with Mulder & Bosch in the test squad he should ideally be the No.7 all-rounder here. Works better than for T20I as well.
8.
Gerald Coetzee - Would've considered him for the test team but he's quite raw there, while in ODIs he has beastly numbers and had a brilliant World Cup too, making it his best format.
9.
Lungi Ngidi - Definitely could've been in any of the 3 sides, but Lungi's a better white-ball bowler, and between T20s and ODIs he's been better in the 50-over format of late. And also adds experience and leadership to the ODI attack.
10.
Lizaad Williams - Our fourth pacer here is another fringe quick, and his ODI numbers have been quite solid compared to T20I with 16 wickets in 7 games- which is my reason to have him here with Coetzee and Ngidi.
11.
Tabraiz Shamsi - Shamsi will always be known as the one who topped the T20I bowling rankings, but his ODI numbers are more than solid. With the other white-ball spinners not experienced enough in ODIs, Shamsi should lead the spin unit here.
12.
Janneman Malan - Used to be good enough for the full-strength ODI team but fell off, but could be a decent backup. Looked up that he's done decently in the domestic one-day cup recently.
13.
Senuran Muthusamy - Backup spinner + AR for the one-day team, he played in the NZ-PAK tri series recently and could be a useful backup to Shamsi.
14.
Mihlali Mpongwana - has been around the A side and even named in the senior team, I haven't seen much of him but could be the quality pick for a backup pace AR
15.
Kwena Maphaka - Honestly he's too raw to have a best format but it makes sense to have him here as he's played some ODIs and was good in the U-19 comp which was List A.
Probably the best ODI side possible, leaving the T20 specialists to the shortest format. Bowling looks pretty good, top order is a little inexperienced but has the right guys for the ODI format.
T20Is
We finally move onto the shortest format, the T20Is. The SA20 has added great depth for this team, and let's look at our options.
1.
Quinton de Kock
- Technically not retired in the T20I format and yeah in that sense a no-brainer pick. Also relieves the headache of searching for some fringe players again. It's the only format he plays, so it's what he makes it in. Valuable as ever, please captain too thanks.
2.
Reeza Hendricks - Honestly it's easily his best format, or his only good format. Reeza would be my 1st pick for the T20I side as I'm never picking him for the other two formats. This way we have the old full-strength T20I opening pair opening for us in this side.
3.
Lhuan-dre Pretorius - Another opener, but demoted to retain our "old" regular opening duo. Can switch with Reeza, I know he's uncapped, but we know he had an insane SA20- he's now on the radar, expect to make his debut. Based on SA20, having him here.
4.
Dewald Brevis - In at 4, we have Brevis, who has become comfortable to the shortest format. Did well for CSK, has been doing well in T20s now in the middle-order, so he will be my 4.
5.
Donovan Ferreira - Can only really justify his selection in this format, having not played the others. He inspires confidence though, a 4-D player giving Duminy vibes bowling the 2-3 overs of spin and playing attacking cricket. Should bat below Brevis though
6.
Patrick Kruger - Has played only T20Is and has been decent as a specialist. Going with him mainly cause he has the international experience and has done well for SEC in the SA20 and fits well at No. 6 as a batting allrounder.
7..
George Linde - Honestly a very under-utilised cricketer, going with him here mainly because it's the one format he has recently made a comeback in + the fact that only in the shortest format can we really afford to play two ARs at 6 and 7. Linde fits well here, he has done well in T20Is and gives a spin option too, with our two best white-ball spinners used up in other formats.
8.
Bjorn Fortuin - Fortuin is mainly here to balance the order, making me go with him at 8 over Peter or any fast bowler to ensure a tail that isn't too long. He's a decent white ball spinner and should pair up with Linde here, and is definitely rated the better gun by CSA at least.
9.
Anrich Nortje - Honestly he would be so valuable in Tests but realistically today this is his format to play. Should be the spearhead for the T20 attack with Rabada & Ngidi elsewhere, and fair to say it his best format too internationally, and the one he will be playing mostly for SA now onwards.
10.
Nandre Burger - Another hot option for tests but like Coetzee, he is quite raw there, while in T20s he's proved to be very good for Rajasthan Royals and could add a dimension to our T20I pace attack.
11.
Ottneil Baartman - T20 specialist death bowler so a shoe-in to this side, has done well in the shortest format and I've no idea of his capabilities in the other two.
12.
Rubin Hermann- Recently selected for the T20I series in Zimbabwe so I'm lazily picking him as my backup bat.
13.
Delano Potgieter - I'd be pushing for him over Kruger but his disadvantage is that he's actually not capped yet, but should be soon, a very good T20 AR.
14.
Andile Simelane - Has been around the T20 side as a pacer and will be my backup option here, not really played other formats
15.
Nqaba Peter- Fortuin playing pushes Peter to the bench but he will definitely be in the team as backup spinner, has played a decent amount of late.
SA20 made this a lot easier, still mostly just a mix of the specialist players- Klaasen retiring hurt the options, but still got a strong opening pair and a great all-round core.
45 players was not so hard, SA have a decent amount of depth. All teams look solid honestly, and the point of maintaining balance has been achieved across sides.
