Conrad's selection dilemma ahead of Lord's final: Ngidi one more time?

IOL News

2 days ago

Lungi Ngidi of South Africa readies to bowl during day 1 of the 1st Test between South Africa and West Indies at Darren Sammy Cricket Ground, Gros Islet, Saint Lucia Lungi Ngidi has not played any cricket since the One-Day International (ODI) series against Ireland at the beginning of October. Picture: Randy Brooks/AFP
Image: Randy Brooks/AFP
Not so long ago, coach Shukri Conrad found himself with a weakened bowling attack, with Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger out through injury, while Anrich Nortje withdrew from Test cricket during the 2023–25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
However, heading into the WTC final against Australia at Lord's next week, the coach finds himself with a selection headache. While other quicks were injured during the summer — including Lungi Ngidi, who was unavailable for the home Tests — Dane Paterson grabbed his opportunities with both hands.
The 35-year-old took a five-wicket haul in his first Test at home since January 2020, ripping through the Sri Lanka batting line-up at St George's Park in Gqeberha.
There's not long to go until we see Dane Paterson do his thing in a Middlesex shirt 🙌#OneMiddlesex pic.twitter.com/J4S0TEGp20 — Middlesex Cricket (@Middlesex_CCC) February 28, 2025
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In the very next Test match, on Boxing Day at SuperSport Park in Centurion, Paterson claimed another five-for, dismantling the Pakistan batting order to record his second five-wicket haul in Tests — all at 35-years old.
Now aged 36, Paterson is a strong candidate to take the only remaining spot in the bowling attack.
Kagiso Rabada, the leader of the attack, will most likely be joined by left-arm quick Marco Jansen, all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, and spinner Keshav Maharaj. Should Conrad opt to play three specialist seamers alongside Mulder and Maharaj, he would then need to choose between Paterson and Ngidi, both of whom are in the squad for the final.
Ngidi is the more experienced Test bowler of the two, and he has also played at Lord's — when South Africa dismantled England by an innings three years ago. However, it is difficult to look past Paterson.