Inside Conrad’s push to bring Nortje back to the Test fold

Conrad Pushes Anrich Nortje Back into the Test Squad

• Pre‑liminary squad: Coach Shukri Conrad has included fast‑bowler Anrich Nortje in South Africa’s 18‑man squad for the first Test against Australia at Kingsmead (starting 9 Oct).
• Reason for recall: Conrad said Nortje expressed a desire to be available for all formats during the T20 World Cup and that the team wants to assess his current fitness and form as early as possible.

Nortje’s Recent Activity

• Last Test: West Indies, Centurion, Feb‑Mar 2023.
• White‑ball workload: 104 matches since then, averaging 21.9 deliveries per game (total 380.1 overs).
• Age: Turns 33 in November.

Fitness & Monitoring

• Conrad’s staff are using detailed data (workload, intensity, injury history) to decide if Nortje can handle Test demands.
• The decision will consider whether a Test debut is the best re‑entry point or if another format is more suitable.

Fast‑bowling Landscape

• Kagiso Rabada remains the only fast bowler in the preliminary squad; his fitness is a key factor.
• Other South African pacers (Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman, Lutho Sipamla) are sidelined with hamstring injuries.
• The squad also includes Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Wiaan Mulder, and Dane Paterson.

Upcoming Assessment

• The team will convene in Durban on Thursday for a two‑day intra‑squad match.
• Performance in that game will help finalize the 15‑man Test squad and confirm Rabada’s inclusion.

Personal Note

• Nortje became a father in May, welcoming twins, which adds a personal motivation for a return to the longer format.

Welcome back, Anrich Nortje.