Is this the Proteas' XI for New Year's Test at Newlands?

Is this the Proteas’ XI for New Year’s Test at Newlands?

This South Africa Test tour was billed as the final frontier for India, and it continues to be unbreachable.

The ICC has handed an "unsatisfactory" rating to the pitch that hosted the New Year's Test between South Africa and India at Newlands. Photo: Official SA20 website.

This South Africa Test tour was billed as the final frontier for India, and it continues to be unbreachable.

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Despite rain interruptions and South Africa losing their captain Temba Bavuma to injury, India lost the Boxing Day Test at SuperSport Park in Centurion inside three days in crashing to an innings and 32 run defeat.

And if that wasn’t bad enough, India were post-match docked two WTC points for maintaining a slow over rate.

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The challenge will only get stiffer for them in the second Test at Newlands where they have never won a Test in six attempts.

The second and final Test in Cape Town runs from 3-7 January 2024.

The first ball on Wednesday is due to be bowled at 10:00.

The Proteas will need to make at least two changes to their team after Bavuma and Gerald Coetzee were both ruled out due to injury.

Dean Elgar will captain the Proteas in his final Test before retirement.

The weather forecast suggest hot and windy conditions are to be expected throughout the Test.

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PROBABLE PROTEAS TEAM FOR NEWLANDS TEST

Dean Elgar (captain), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Keegan Petersen, Zubayr Hamza, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger