Coach Conrad’s selection dilemma ahead of Lord’s final: Ngidi one more time?

NOT so long ago, coach Shukri Conrad found himself with a weakened bowling attack, with Gerald Coetzee and Nandre Burger out through injury, while Anrich Nortje withdrew from Test cricket during the 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.

- ONGAMA GCWABE

However, heading into the WTC final against Australia at Lord's next week, the coach finds himself with a selection headache. While other quicks were injured during the summer — including Lungi Ngidi, who was unavailable for the home Tests — Dane Paterson grabbed his opportunities with both hands. The 35-year-old took a five-wicket haul in his first Test at home since January 2020, ripping through the Sri Lanka batting line-up at St George's Park in Gqeberha.

In the very next Test match, on Boxing Day at SuperSport Park in Centurion, Paterson claimed another five-for, dismantling the Pakistan batting order to record his second five-wicket haul in Tests — all at 35-years old.