Zubayr Hamza, Dane Paterson return as Proteas make two changes to Test XI

Hamza played the last of his eight Test matches in February 2024 against New Zealand in Hamilton, and will fill the critical number three position in the batting order after David Bendingham was dropped following the series against Australia.

The 32-year-old Hamza has gone back to domestic cricket and put in the performances required at the lower level and has also been solid for the South Africa A side during the winter.

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma plays alongside Hamza at the Lions in domestic cricket, whose home venue is the Wanderers, and has watched first-hand how the right-handed batter has transformed his game.

"He's gone back domestic cricket and he's scored runs in all the formats," Bavuma said of Hamza when announcing the XI to the media. "I mean, from what I see, from a playing point of view, a lot more aggressive, looks to take the game on.

"That speaks to how we kind of try, or at least the conversations we have as a batting team. You know, there's that opportunity at number three and I think for him, there's no better place for him to get that opportunity on a place that he's made his home in the last couple of years."

Paterson was a part of the squad in the last World Test Championship (WTC) and took back-to-back five-wicket hauls in the last two Test matches, against Sri Lanka and Pakistan respectively in December 2024.

The seamer has only played in seven Tests, but the 37-year-old is an experienced campaigner at domestic level with 668 wickets under his belt in 185 first-class games.

Gerald Coetzee was axed following the Test win against Australia against Newlands, and Paterson would have competed with Corbin Bosch for a place in the XI.

Paterson is not as quick as Bosch but would bring more control to the bowling attack, according to Bavuma, to support Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen.

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