Retour
South Africa have dropped Bedingham for their upcoming two-match Test series against Bangladesh and recalled Zubayr Hamza, who hasn’t played a Test since November 2024.
Bedingham was recalled to the Test side for the three-match series against Australia at home after more than a year. He made scores of 11, 50, 0, 49 and 46 accross the series as South Africa sealed the thrilling series 2-1.
Despite making a half-century in South Africa's memorable Cape Town win, Bedingham has been jetisoned for their upcoming series against Bangladesh. Kyle Verreyne also hasn't made the squad, having been left out of the XI for the final two Tests against Australia.
Bedingham's dismissal in the second innings of the third Test attracted criticism, after he slashed at a ball from Josh Hazlewood, giving a catch to Nathan Lyon at deep square leg, with South Africa in a precarious position at 31-1.
Tony de Zorzi has replaced Bedingham in the Test squad for the Bangladesh series, while South Africa have also included Zubayr Hamza, who played the last of his eight Tests in February 2024. Hamza averages 19.18 in his Test career so far, but made scores of 78 and 68 for South Africa A in their first-class series against Bangladesh A earlier this year.
With De Zorzi returning, he is expected to open with Aiden Markram, with Marques Ackermann likely to move to the No.3 position vacated by Bedingham. Ackermann opened the innings in red-ball cricket for the first time in the series against Australia and scored 163 runs in three innings, with twin half-centuries in the deciding Test at Newlands in Cape Town.
David Bedingham ❌ Kyle Verreynne ❌ Zubayr Hamza ✅ South Africa have announced a 15-player squad for their two-match home Test series against Bangladesh later this month 🇿🇦 https://t.co/zS8uUqCjUF
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) November 2, 2026
Meanwhile, Anrich Nortje has been declared fit and has been included in the squad for the Bangladesh series. He walked off the field during the second Test against Australia midway through his fourth over in the first innings after suffering a groin injury.
Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton