Anrich Nortjé and Marques Ackerman have arrived at a shared destination in South Africa’s 18-man preliminary squad for the first Test against Australia, which begins this Friday at Kingsmead. While Nortjé, a veteran of 19 Tests, makes a long-awaited return to the format after more than three-and-a-half years, Ackerman finds himself on the cusp of an international debut.
The two players have traveled vastly different routes to reach this point. Since his last Test, Nortjé has remained active in limited-overs cricket, playing 104 matches across global leagues in India, the United States, the Caribbean, Europe, and Abu Dhabi, including 21 white-ball internationals. However, he has not participated in a first-class match since the series against the West Indies in February and March 2023, during which he did not bowl more than eight overs in a single outing. Addressing his physical preparation, Nortjé noted that he has focused on gradually building his red-ball workload to regain his rhythm and execute his skills effectively. That’s a lot of degrees of difference between the two players. “Whatever is coming in the future, it’s not up to me right now.
Ackerman’s journey has been defined by domestic consistency rather than global travel, having featured in 115 matches across formats in South Africa and England. A proven leader, he captained the Dolphins to a first-class championship in 2020/21 and led South Africa A to series victories against the West Indies and Bangladesh. With 16 first-class centuries and a career-best 256 against the Bangladeshis, Ackerman has proven his appetite for the longer game. He described Test cricket as the true measure of skill and patience, expressing deep affection for four-day formats. It’s nice to be here with the guys and working on X, Y and Z.
Regarding his inclusion, Ackerman remarked that he has worked hard throughout his career to reach this level and remains eager to contribute to the team. He recalled his early exposure to the game through his family, specifically his grandmother’s indoor cricket facility where he began batting at a young age. Nortjé also reflected on the significance of his return, admitting the process took longer than expected but describing the prospect of bowling with the red ball again as a special, exhilarating feeling. According to “I’ve worked hard my whole career to try to be in this space,” Ackerman, In audio released by CSA on Sunday. “They’ve got something great going on and it’s amazing to be part of that now. I just want to stick to giving back to this team and enjoying the space.”. “It’s relaxed at the moment, but things are going to ramp up. But I’m looking forward to the next few weeks, it’s only been a few days.
The 18-player squad will be reduced to 15 ahead of the series opener. The team is currently navigating a wave of injuries, with Tony de Zorzi ruled out due to a hamstring injury, becoming the latest in a series of similar fitness issues affecting the squad. If selected, Nortjé’s participation could be influenced by the fitness of Kagiso Rabada, while Ackerman remains in contention for a No. 3 or No. 5 batting position alongside Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, and Wiaan Mulder.
The series against Australia carries significant weight, evoking memories of their turbulent 2018 encounters at Kingsmead, St George’s Park, and Newlands. The historical backdrop includes high-profile on-field confrontations and the infamous ball-tampering scandal. However, the current South African side enters the clash with momentum, having secured their first global trophy since 1998 during the WTC final at Lord’s in June of last year.
