The Proteas have returned no new COVID-19 positive cases upon their entry into the bio-secure bubble in Pretoria.

This is good news given that the squad could already be affected by up to 10 players being exposed to or infected by the virus, following exposure in two separate 4 Day Franchise matches in the past round (started a week ago).

Cricket South Africa don’t release the names of the players who test positive, and neither have they confirmed which players made it into the bubble. There may well be players who contested the two 4 Day matches in question, who are are positive or isolating, in addition to the two CSA has indicated as having tested positive on Friday.

Given how many players the Proteas have called into the squad recently, one assumes there is some concern about certain squad members being eligible for selection for the first Test in six days time.

Squad

Quinton de Kock (captain, Titans), Temba Bavuma (Lions), Aiden Markram (Titans), Faf du Plessis (Titans), Beuran Hendricks (Lions), Dean Elgar (Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Dolphins), Lungi Ngidi (Titans), Rassie van der Dussen (Lions), Sarel Erwee (Dolphins), Anrich Nortje (Warriors), Glenton Stuurman (Warriors), Wiaan Mulder (Lions), Keegan Petersen (Dolphins), Kyle Verreynne (Cape Cobras), Migael Pretorius (Knights), Dwaine Pretorius (Lions), Lutho Sipamla (Lions), Raynard van Tonder (Knights).