Proteas coach explains Nortje and Rabada inclusion in prelim Test squad

Nortje has not played Test cricket in more than three years, having last played in Conrad’s first series in charge in February 2023.

The selectors have named an 18-player group that’s set to convene on Thursday, and the coach says it’s a good opportunity to see where the 32-year-old is before cutting the squad to 15 ahead of the match in Durban from October 9.

"He indicated as early as in the T20 World Cup that he still wants to be available for all formats and just how we were gonna monitor and all of that. So, I just thought it's a great opportunity to get Anna involved as early as possible,” Conrad said. 

“We get access exactly where he is and yeah, it's great to have someone of his calibre and pace more importantly available to us. So, yeah, we'll see how that goes, we'll monitor him for the week and then make decisions based on that going forward."

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Having last played any form of first class cricket in February 2023, Nortje’s handling of bowling loads will be under sharp focus when they play a two-day intra-squad match in camp. 

He has taken 70 wickets in 19 Test matches from 2019 to 2023, and Conrad believes he’s done the right things to get himself to that sort of sharpness again.

"I mean he's as pedantic and as professional as they come, I've got spreadsheets detailing all of that and details, all of the work that he's done,” he added.

“Obviously the loads and the intensity at which international cricket is played that we gotta measure up against those loads. So, I'm very comfortable that he's done all the necessary work, we just gonna look at the intensity that all of that happened at but again, we've got a long summer of test matches and ODI's and we've just gotta look at whether the test match is the best introduction back into the international fold or maybe earmark something else. 

“I'm very happy with the way Anna's done all of his stuff and he's kept us in the loop as to all the loads, etcetera."