Proteas Test coach Shukri Conrad just laid it all out: Dewald Brevis isn’t considered one of South Africa’s top Test batters for home conditions, leading to his exclusion from the preliminary squad for the upcoming Australia series. Conrad didn’t mince words, even pulling out a memorable tennis comparison to explain his decision for leaving the 23-year-old out.
Conrad Drops the “Rafael Nadal” Hammer on Brevis’ Test Prospects
After South Africa announced their 18-man squad for the first of three Tests against Australia, set to start on October 9, Conrad spoke to reporters and made his views crystal clear. He explained that while Brevis will surely “feature at some stage” of a long summer, his current standing in the Test pecking order is based squarely on conditions, not raw talent. Conrad believes South African pitches simply suit other batters better than they do the CSK star right now. “The blunt answer is that I don’t think he is one of the best batters in Test cricket for us,” Conrad said. He suggested Brevis is “probably more suited to us playing in Test cricket in the subcontinent.” That’s when the tennis analogy hit: “In Test cricket, he is a bit like our Rafael Nadal, a clay court specialist,” Conrad stated, making it clear Brevis thrives more on subcontinent surfaces than on South African ones. The squad does include Kagiso Rabada, who’s working on match fitness, and Anrich Nortje is on track for a Test return. Uncapped batter Marques Ackerman also made the cut, but Brevis didn’t.
Brevis’ Test Record and What Comes Next
Brevis has played four Tests in his career, all during 2025. In those matches, he’s scored 138 runs at an average of 23.00, with a best score of 54, including two half-centuries. His Test debut was in Bulawayo against Zimbabwe in June where he hit a quickfire 51. His last Test appearance came against Pakistan in Rawalpindi in October. Conrad acknowledged that Brevis has “shown a glimpse” of what he can do, referring to his 54 runs across three innings in that Pakistan series. Brevis also traveled with the squad that won in India but didn’t actually play a Test there. There’s no doubt about his white-ball form, but the red-ball game at home? Conrad’s not seeing it as a fit just yet.
So, what’s next for Brevis? Conrad guarantees he’ll get his chance in the “long summer.” But with the Australia series kicking off October 9 and the coach being so upfront, Brevis clearly has some work to do to prove he’s more than just a “clay court specialist” on home turf.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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