09/10/2025
Here’s a rewritten, **natural, human-style version** of the article — smoother, more conversational, and easier to read, while keeping all the facts intact:
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# # # South Africa Ready for Spin Test in Pakistan, Says Aiden Markram
South Africa are bracing for a heavy dose of spin when they begin their World Test Championship (WTC) title defence in Pakistan later this week. Stand-in captain **Aiden Markram** says the squad knows exactly what to expect — and believes they’re ready.
Although the Proteas haven’t played red-ball cricket together since their WTC final win in June, several players have stayed active. Some featured in a two-Test series in Zimbabwe in June and July, while others gained experience in the English County Championship. Their main preparation for Pakistan came in a short training camp in Pretoria, where they tried to recreate the spin-friendly conditions they’ll face abroad.
> “If it’s your home game, you can prepare whatever wicket you want — that’s how I see it,” Markram said before the team’s departure on Monday. “If it’s going to be extreme, like we saw in the series against England, then it’ll be difficult for both teams from a batting point of view. For us, it’s about accepting whatever we get and backing the guys on the day to do the job.”
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# # # Replicating Pakistan’s Turning Tracks
Markram’s comments refer to Pakistan’s series against England last year, when pitches in **Multan** and **Rawalpindi** turned sharply. Pakistan used everything from heaters and industrial fans to windbreakers to dry out surfaces — and it worked. Out of 31 wickets that fell in Rawalpindi, 29 went to spin.
It’s impossible to produce that kind of turn in South Africa, but the team gave it a go at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria.
> “We had three pitches that turned quite a bit — two of them spun heavily, maybe more than we’ll see over there,” Markram explained. “The third one was still sharp but a bit easier to bat on. We also kept one strip normal, just to have balance. We’ve done our best to cover everything — it’s hard to make the ball stay low here on the Highveld, but we’re trying to tick all the boxes.”
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# # # Spin Squad in Focus
South Africa have gone with a spin-heavy attack for this tour, naming **Senuran Muthusamy**, **Simon Harmer**, and **Prenelan Subrayen** as their frontline options. Their premier spinner, **Keshav Maharaj**, will join the squad for the second Test as he continues his recovery from injury.
Markram said the variety among the spinners is a real asset.
> “They’re all quite different,” he said. “Simon and Subs, for example, are both offspinners but offer completely different challenges. They vary in pace, trajectory, and the type of spin they get — some more side spin, others more overspin — and that affects how the ball reacts off the wicket. That variety is going to be massive for us.”
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# # # Filling Bavuma’s Shoes
Regular captain **Temba Bavuma** will miss the series with a calf injury, which leaves a big gap at No. 4. Bavuma was South Africa’s top run-scorer in the last WTC cycle and a steady presence in the middle order.
Markram, who also captained the side on their tour of Bangladesh last year, knows replacing Bavuma won’t be easy. But he’s confident in the squad’s depth.
One name in contention is **Dewald Brevis**, who made his Test debut in Zimbabwe and is known for his fearless batting.
> “He’s definitely an option, especially with how well he plays spin,” Markram said. “If the pitches are as challenging as we think, his attacking approach could shift momentum quickly. He’ll definitely be in the mix.”
Another candidate is **Zubayr Hamza**, who scored a second-innings hundred for South Africa A against New Zealand A recently. **Tony de Zorzi** is also under consideration after his impressive 177 in Bangladesh last year.
> “Tony played incredibly well in Bangladesh under tough conditions,” Markram said. “So it’s not a straight swap for Dewald — we’ve got a few options, and all of them are in the conversation.”
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# # # What’s Next
The first Test starts in **Lahore** on **Sunday**, followed by the second in **Rawalpindi**. South Africa expect spin to dominate the series, but under Markram’s leadership, the message is clear — **embrace the challenge and adapt fast**.
> “We know what’s coming,” Markram said. “We’ve prepared the best we can — now it’s about execution.”
