CONRAD HOPING BOSCH'S EXTRA PACE WILL ADD BITE TO PROTEAS ATTACK

New MI Cape Town Wildcard Corbin Bosch has earned a maiden Proteas Test call-up.

The 30-year-old has been in splendid form domestically for the Titans and also performed admirably for the SA Invitation XI against the England Lions in Cape Town recently

Bosch will join his fellow MI Cape Town teammates Kagiso Rabada and Ryan Rickelton in the 16-man squad for the two-match series against Pakistan.

“His all-round ability with both bat and ball adds depth and his pace brings an extra bite to our attack, so we’re excited to see him make that step up to Test cricket,” said Conrad.

"He adds so much to our attack. On the Highveld, we need a little bit of pace and Corbin provides that. He’s in top form. He's doing well domestically.

“He had a really good outing against the English Lions last week that I managed to catch a glimpse of. He's matured nicely from when I last saw him when he was with the [national] academy with me a couple of years ago and he's turned into a really good cricketer."

The Proteas are sweating on the fitness of Durban’s Super Giants duo Wiaan Mulder and Keshav Maharaj though.

Mulder sustained a hand injury in the first Test against Sri Lanka at Kingsmead, while Maharaj was withdrawn from the first ODI against Pakistan at Boland Park on Tuesday due to a groin strain.

Both players have been included in the squad with Conrad affording them more time to prove their fitness.

 "Kesh is obviously one of the senior players in the side. He is a great sounding board. He's got a huge amount of experience and he's such a calming influence in the change room as well," Conrad said. 

"And he's an excellent spinner. Him, KG [Kagiso Rabada] and thankfully we've got Marco [Jansen] back - they're really the triumvirate that will ensure that we get the bulk of the 20 wickets we need to win a Test match.

"We'll see how severe it is, whether it's only potentially the first Test (he misses) or both Test matches.

“Based on the outcome of that, we'll do the necessary.

“Once I get the results of the scan, I'll be in a better position to either replace [or] chat to the other coaches and make up my mind on the back of that." 

The first Test against Pakistan starts on Boxing Day at Centurion followed by the second Test over New Year at Newlands.

Paarl Royals teenager Kwena Maphaka has also been added to the squad.

PROTEAS TEST SQUAD AGAINST PAKISTAN

Temba Bavuma (captain), David Bedingham (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Corbin Bosch (MI Cape Town), Matthew Breetzke (Durban’s Super Giants), Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Keshav Maharaj (Durban’s Super Giants), Kwena Maphaka (Paarl Royals), Aiden Markram (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), Wiaan Mulder (Durban’s Super Giants), Senuran Muthusamy (Pretoria Capitals), Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada (MI Cape Town), Ryan Rickelton (MI Cape Town), Tristan Stubbs (Sunrisers Eastern Cape), and Kyle Verreynne (Pretoria Capitals).