Opener neil brand

Vs New Zealand: Opener Neil Brand will captain a weakened South Africa squad in the two-match Test series in New Zealand, starting with a warm-up match on January 29. Brand is one of the seven uncapped players in the squad as the main players are contracted to play the second edition of the SA20 league, majorly owned by Cricket South Africa (CSA).

Players like Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen, Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Tony de Zorzi, Nandre Burger and Simon Harmer will play in the SA20, as they are obliged to play in the league at home instead of being on national duties.

Apart from Brand, who led South Africa A to a 2-1 series win over West Indies A earlier this month, batter Raynard van Tonder, all-rounders Ruan de Swardt and Mihlali Mpongwana, seam bowler Tshepo Moreki, spinner Shaun von Berg and wicketkeeper Clyde Fortuin are the other uncapped members of the South Africa Test side.