Shukri Conrad has already named his opening pair for the Proteas’ World Test Championship final against Australia — a bold move that has set the tone for what could be a fiercely contested clash at Lord’s next month.
With Aiden Markram retaining his place at the top and Ryan Rickelton rewarded for his stellar form, South Africa’s batting order is beginning to take shape. But the inclusion of Rickelton raises questions about the rest of the line-up — most notably the role, if any, for Tony de Zorzi, as Conrad weighs his options ahead of the June 11 showdown.
The final leg to Lord’s has begun! 🏟️
From grit to glory, it’s all been leading to this final test of character.
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It will be Rickelton’s second outing as an opener, having filled the role for the first time during the New Year’s Test against Pakistan at Newlands earlier this year. The left-hander made the most of the opportunity, scoring a double century in that match after stepping in for the then first-choice opener, De Zorzi, who was unavailable for selection.
Conrad believes Rickelton has done enough to cement his place at the top of the order for the final — a decision that has prompted debate over the makeup of the rest of the batting line-up.
De Zorzi began his Test career batting at No 3 when Dean Elgar and Markram were the established openers. However, Tristan Stubbs has since occupied that position, with Temba Bavuma, David Bedingham and Kyle Verreynne rounding out the top six.
Conrad has shown a willingness to experiment with the batting order throughout this WTC cycle. He notably promoted Wiaan Mulder to No 3 during the series against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead last summer, while pushing Stubbs and Bavuma further down the order. This suggests that Conrad may yet spring another surprise when the final begins at Lord’s.
He noted that a decision on where — or whether — De Zorzi fits into the batting line-up would be made once the squad assembles in London. Conrad also acknowledged the possibility of moving De Zorzi into the middle order — a position the young batter has yet to occupy in his Test career.
Given Conrad’s confirmation that Rickelton will open, De Zorzi’s inclusion in the final XI appears uncertain. Stubbs, Bavuma, Bedingham, Verreynne and Mulder are near certainties for selection. Should De Zorzi play, it would likely push Mulder to No 8, leaving three remaining spots in the XI, which would presumably go to one spinner and two pace bowlers.
Australia, for their part, have frequently employed a combination of three seamers and one spinner in English conditions. Typically, the spinner delivers the bulk of the overs, while the seamers rotate at the other end. This scenario could create space for De Zorzi in the line-up.
However, if Conrad opts for a traditional balance of three seamers, a spinner, and Mulder as an all-rounder, De Zorzi may well miss out on the final.
The World Test Championship final is scheduled to take place from 11–15 June 2025.
