South Africa have named their playing XI for the first Test against Bangladesh, starting November 15 in Johannesburg. Two changes from the third Test against Australia stand out: Zubayr Hamza replaces David Bedingham, and Dane Paterson replaces Gerald Coetzee. With 71.43 PCT at stake, the selection carries World Test Championship implications.
South Africa Playing XI vs Bangladesh: Full Lineup
Cricket South Africa (CSA) released the team on Saturday, November 14. Temba Bavuma will captain the side in the first of a two-match series.
The XI is largely the same group that featured against Australia in the third Test. Only two of the eleven places have changed, a turnover of roughly 18.18 percent.
| No. | Player | Note |
|---|
| 1 | Aiden Markram | Opener |
| 2 | Marques Ackerman | Opener |
| 3 | Zubayr Hamza | Replaces David Bedingham |
| 4 | Temba Bavuma (captain) | Leads the side |
| 5 | Matthew Breetzke | Retained |
| 6 | Ryan Rickelton | Retained |
| 7 | Wiaan Mulder | Retained |
| 8 | Marco Jansen | Retained |
| 9 | Simon Harper | Retained |
| 10 | Kagiso Rabada | Leads pace attack |
| 11 | Dane Paterson | Replaces Gerald Coetzee |
Key Changes: Hamza In, Bedingham Out
David Bedingham's Numbers in 2026
Bedingham played 3 Tests in 2026. He scored 156 runs in 5 innings at an average of 31.20.
He has been dropped for the two-match series. The output was modest, though not far outside the range of a middle-order batter finding form.
Why Zubayr Hamza Gets the Nod
Hamza, 31, made his Test debut in 2019 but has been out of the Test setup since 2024. His recent form for South Africa A earned him the recall.
He scored 146 runs in 2 innings against Bangladesh A, which works out to 73.00 runs per innings. That is a small sample, but it came against the same opposition.
| Metric | David Bedingham (2026) | Zubayr Hamza (SA A vs Bangladesh A) |
|---|
| Matches | 3 Tests | Not specified |
| Innings | 5 | 2 |
| Runs | 156 | 146 |
| Average | 31.20 | 73.00 runs per innings |
Dane Paterson Replaces Gerald Coetzee
The second change sees Paterson come in for Coetzee. Paterson returns to the playing XI for the first time in 2 years.
Rabada will lead the pace attack. Marco Jansen and Wiaan Mulder add further seam options, while Simon Harper is the spin option in the XI.
Markram and Ackerman will continue to open the innings. That keeps the top-order structure intact from the Australia series.
WTC Table: Why This Series Matters
South Africa sit 2nd on the World Test Championship table with 71.43 PCT. As defending champions, they are favourites to reach the final for the second straight time.
Australia, led by Pat Cummins, are third with 69 PCT. The gap between the two sides is just 2.43 percentage points.
| Team | Position | PCT |
|---|
| South Africa | 2nd | 71.43 |
| Australia | 3rd | 69.00 |
What a Defeat Could Mean
A loss in Johannesburg could push South Africa down to third place. That would directly affect their WTC final qualification chances.
With such a narrow margin over Australia, the Proteas cannot afford a slip-up in this two-match series.
Key Takeaways
- Two changes were made from the third Test against Australia: Hamza for Bedingham and Paterson for Coetzee.
- Bedingham managed 156 runs in 5 innings at 31.20 in 2026.
- Hamza scored 146 runs in 2 innings against Bangladesh A.
- South Africa lead Australia by 2.43 PCT points in the WTC standings.