Proteas have built incredible strength in depth under Shukri Conrad

South Africa's recent two-match tour to Zimbabwe has allowed fringe players to raise their bats for regular selection.

- By Keanan Hemmonsbey

Spin bowlers, top-order batters, all-rounders, wicketkeeper batters, fast bowlers of every kind... Suddenly head coach Shukri Conrad has options aplenty when assembling his Test side.

South Africa's two-match Test series against Zimbabwe has given several fringe players - and those who have been knocking on the door an opportunity to test their mettle at the highest level.

During the two weeks of action in Bulawayo, Conrad has handed five players their first Test match caps: Dewald Brevis, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Codi Yusuf, Lesego Senokwane and Prenelan Subrayen. Corbin Bosch, Kwena Maphaka and Matthew Breetzke also featured, collecting their second Test caps. All three have had their first taste of Test cricket during the last season.

The time spent in Zimbabwe was a test of the country's red-ball depth, and it's one that's been passed with flying colours.

The aforementioned group of players are added to a playing team of 11 who recently clinched the World Test Championship final against Australia, so breaking into the best available team won't be easy. But it does provide Conrad with players that he can best assemble depending on the conditions.

South Africa tour India in November for a two-match Test series their next Test series after Zimbabwe and will probably change up the side to suit the conditions on the subcontinent.

It will not be surprising if Conrad opts for three spin bowlers in Kolkata and Guwahati. And in Zimbabwe, the three spinners most likely to be on the flight to India were Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy and Subrayen.