Durban: Marques Ackerman is the solitary new face in South Africa’s preliminary 18-man squad for the first Test against Australia, earning a maiden call-up on the back of a staggering run of form for South Africa ‘A’.
The 30-year-old Hollywoodbets Dolphins batter has piled up more than 1,000 runs in his last 10 red-ball appearances for the ‘A’ side at an average of 82.92, including four centuries and a career-best 256 against Bangladesh ‘A’ in August.
Ackerman has also led the ‘A’ side, and that leadership record counted heavily with the selectors. “The way he has led the SA ‘A’ side, both as captain and through his performances with the bat, has earned him this opportunity,” head coach Shukri Conrad said. “We’re looking forward to having him in the Test environment.”
Competition for places
Ackerman is expected to compete with Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Wiaan Mulder for a top-three berth, while David Bedingham retained his middle-order place after twin centuries for Western Province in domestic cricket.
Young sensation Dewald Brevis missed out despite being part of the squad that won a Test series in India last year, underlining how Ackerman’s weight of runs forced the selectors’ hand.
Reward for patience
At 30, Ackerman’s call-up is a reminder that the domestic grind still matters. He has been one of the most consistent batters in South African franchise cricket for several seasons without ever quite breaking through — until a winter of ‘A’-team dominance made him impossible to ignore.
Ackerman’s domestic record backs up the ‘A’-team numbers. A regular for the Dolphins for the better part of a decade, he has been among the most consistent run-scorers in South Africa’s four-day competition, combining a tight technique against the new ball with the temperament for long innings — qualities the selectors believe will transfer to Test cricket.
Ackerman’s domestic record backs up the ‘A’-team numbers. A regular for the Dolphins for the better part of a decade, he has been among the most consistent run-scorers in South Africa’s four-day competition, combining a tight technique against the new ball with the temperament for long innings — qualities the selectors believe will transfer to Test cricket.
Why now
South Africa’s top order has been in flux, and the selectors have shown they will reward domestic weight of runs — David Bedingham’s retention after twin centuries for Western Province follows the same logic. At 30, Ackerman is no project player; he is a finished product arriving at the exact moment opportunity knocked.
With the squad to be trimmed to 15 after a two-day intra-squad match in Durban, his immediate goal is simpler: survive the cut, then press for a debut at Kingsmead on October 9.
