ZIM vs SA, 1st Test: Dewald Brevis set for debut in Keshav Maharaj-led new-look XI-OxBig News Network

South Africa will be captained by left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj for the first time in Test cricket when the reigning World Test Champions take on Zimbabwe in the opening match of a two-Test series. In a revamped XI missing several senior players, young Chennai Super Kings star Dewald Brevis, all-rounder Cordi Yusuf, and teenage batting sensation Lhuan-dre Pretorius are set to make their Test debuts in the first match, beginning on Saturday, 28 June at Queen’s Sports Club in Bulawayo.

Temba Bavuma, who led South Africa to victory over Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s, will miss the series due to injury. Key pacers Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen have been rested, along with Aiden Markram—who scored a century in the second innings of the WTC final—as well as Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs.

The upcoming two-Test series in Zimbabwe will not be part of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle.

Dewald Brevis, long on the cusp of national selection, will finally make his Test debut and is expected to bolster a reshaped batting line-up, which also sees the return of Tony de Zorzi. Matthew Breetzke will open alongside De Zorzi in the series opener.

KESHAV MAHARAJ HONOURED TO LEAD PROTEAS

Brevis, who has been making headlines, enters his maiden Test series following a stellar IPL 2025 campaign with Chennai Super Kings, where he joined the five-time champions as an injury replacement. Once earmarked as a future superstar, Brevis has experienced the highs and lows of professional cricket early in his career, but now appears to be coming of age. At 22, he begins his journey towards becoming an all-format star for the Proteas.

Wiaan Mulder will continue at No. 3, with David Bedingham slotting in at No. 4. Lhuan-dre Pretorius, a left-handed wicketkeeper-batter, will occupy a place in the middle order. The highly-rated teenager amassed 485 runs in his debut first-class season, including a century on debut for the Titans in the CSA Four-Day Series Division 1. He also featured for South Africa A against West Indies A in an unofficial Test in Gros Islet.

Kyle Verreynne will retain wicketkeeping duties, while Maharaj will serve as the sole specialist spinner in the XI.

Nineteen-year-old Kwena Maphaka, who made his Test debut against Pakistan in Cape Town earlier this year, will lead the pace attack. He will be joined by debutant Cordi Yusuf and Corbin Bosch.

SOUTH AFRICA XI FOR FIRST TEST VS ZIMBABWE

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