Proteas have lined up options aplenty to send out a thrilling World Test Championship XI

Eight players have been selected, but the balance of South Africa's side for the final is in focus after coach Shukri Conrad gave himself several choices in his squad

- By Keanan Hemmonsbey

South Africa's World Test Championship (WTC) final encounter against Australia is fast approaching and the Proteas squad will assemble in Arundel in the UK from Saturday before taking on Zimbabwe in a four-day warm-up match from Tuesday, 3 June.

Coach Shukri Conrad's selections for that game will paint a clear picture of his thoughts ahead of the match he considers the Proteas' "biggest-ever final".

It won't be set in stone, however, as South Africa will only arrive in London on 7 June and will then have an opportunity to assess conditions at Lord's Cricket Ground, where the final will be played.

Conrad and his brains trust, which includes skipper Temba Bavuma, will then have the opportunity to mull over a specialist spin bowler, an extra fast bowler or even an additional all-rounder, all of whom Conrad has selected in his 15-player squad as options.

There are eight players whose names are penned in for the final. Those include opening batters Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton, whom Conrad confirmed when he announced the squad a fortnight ago.

Numbers four and five in the batting order will almost certainly be occupied by Tristan Stubbs and Bavuma, respectively. They've batted there in South Africa's last six Test innings. David Bedingham is likely to bat at number six for the Proteas, although his Test form has been stuttering in recent times.

The 31-year-old is the only player to have played every match of the WTC cycle for South Africa, but he's had a lean spell. Yet with no one else knocking the door down, it's unlikely he will sit out the final.

Kyle Verreynne who has been the Proteas' first-choice gloveman throughout the current WTC cycle - will come in at seven. Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen will lead the attack with the ball.

How the other puzzle pieces form around those eight players is less clear.

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