Proteas go spin heavy as hosts ring changes for second Test against West Indies

Test coach Shukri Conrad confirmed the starting XI on Tuesday that includes a total of four changes from the first Test that the hosts won by 87 runs in Centurion.

Maharaj and Harmer both sat out in the first match of the series as Senuran Muthusamy was preferred as the spin-bowling all-rounder, batting at number seven, with four pacemen selected.

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out due to a groin injury while lanky left-arm seamer Marco Jansen is being rested, according to Conrad.

The Wanderers pitch, known for a long time to favour the quick bowlers, has aided the slow-bowlers in domestic first-class matches in the last couple of years.

Harmer returned match figures of 14-150 for the Titans in a 10-wicket win against the Lions this season while Maharaj took 6-126 and 7-48 for the Dolphins in 2021.

Seam-bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder replaces Muthusamy while on the batting front Ryan Rickelton returns to the middle-order with Keegan Petersen dropping out.

Proteas starting XI for 2nd Test against West Indies: Aiden Markram, Dean Elgar, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (captain), Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada