The Proteas welcome back Kagiso Rabada for the third Test against England which begins on Thursday and while this is good news, it’s also a selection issue.

The seamer, who is ranked 7th in the world, missed the team’s 340-run drubbing of the English at Trent Bridge in the second Test due to suspension.

The return of Rabada will add to the Proteas’ selection headaches, but it is believed that Morris will be retained, with Duanne Olivier of the VKB Knights making way.

Initially Morris also struggled in Nottingham, but he eventually adapted and this lead to him being one of the teams start-out performers.

Morris took 5 wickets for 45 runs and on top of that added 49 runs with the bat. The captain, Faf du Plessis, says he adds to the bowling attacks x-factor.

“To see a bit of consistency creeping into his bowling is huge for us.

“That adds to our x factor as a team. Now we’ve got four very, very high quality seam bowlers.

“KG (Rabada) will be coming back in the next Test and that obviously makes the bowling attack even stronger.”

Meanwhile, the batsman JP Duminy has been released from the squad for the remainder of the series. Following a string of poor performances, Duminy, was dropped for the second Test. He last made a Test century in January this year but has scored only 121 runs in eight innings since.

The third Test at the Oval in London begins at noon on Thursday.

Morgan Piek OFM Sport