Proteas selection conundrum for Lord's: Who makes the starting XI?

The Proteas go into the first Test against England at Lord's on Wednesday with options aplenty. 

As is the case in their T20 set-up presently, it is difficult to pick an obvious starting XI, and with regular middle-order batsman Temba Bavuma out injured, there are some key decisions to be made. 

That applies to the bowling attack, too, where Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer could play together. 

Below, our Sport24 cricket writers have their say in a game of 'selector'. 

Rob Houwing 

The lack of a genuine, proven all-rounder anywhere in the SA squad ensures one obvious danger: they’ll either go in light on batting or light on bowling … and must simply decide on Wednesday morning (with a glance both up and down!) which formula seems likelier to work better.

It’s been a hot summer in England and with the Proteas’ seamers not having many miles in the legs, I am hugely tempted by the notion of fielding both spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, to prudently spread the load.

A merely six-strong frontline batting unit, then, probably requires a leaning toward experience: hence my choice of Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen at four and five, though as the series develops we may yet see roles for either of Ryan Rickelton or Khaya Zondo.

Heinz Schenk 

Despite Dean Elgar’s relatively disdain for England’s “Bazball” approach to Test cricket – which I, ironically, admire of him – I believe the Proteas will have to some extent fight fire with fire, predominantly because being too passive risks them being overwhelmed.

Keegan Petersen has been in so early during his brief career as a Test No 3 that he might as well open the batting anyway with his skipper.

That allows for the selection of a more dynamic stroke-maker in the middle order.

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