Lungi Ngidi Returns to Test Cricket for WTC Final at Lord's
Ngidi's Comeback in Test Cricket
London [UK], June 11: Lungi Ngidi is poised to make his comeback to Test cricket during the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord's. This match will mark his first Test appearance in ten months and only his third under the guidance of head coach Shukri Conrad. Ngidi has been included in South Africa's playing XI, replacing seamer Dane Paterson, as selectors opted for a strategy that emphasizes extra pace and bounce. The bowling lineup also features Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, and spinner Keshav Maharaj.
South Africa's captain, Temba Bavuma, described the decision as one of the more challenging ones made, as reported by a sports media outlet. He acknowledged Paterson's contributions at the end of the previous season but noted that Ngidi's height and pace offered a tactical advantage.
Lord's is renowned for its distinctive slope, making height a significant asset for fast bowlers. Australia's quick bowlers all exceed 1.90 meters, and South Africa's lineup matches that with Jansen (2.06m) and Ngidi (1.93m). Mulder, at 1.85m, provides medium pace with subtle movement, but his bowling style was deemed too similar to Paterson's, leading to the decision to exclude him for a more varied attack.
Bavuma further emphasized Ngidi's experience, noting his previous appearances at Lord's, although his impact in a 2022 match against England was limited, where he bowled 12 overs and took 1/27. Since then, he has participated in only two Tests over the past 18 months and did not engage in any red-ball cricket last summer. Recently, Ngidi was observed training with England legend Stuart Broad, alongside Rabada, Jansen, and Mulder.
His last first-class match was in August against the West Indies, where he bowled 16.5 overs and achieved figures of 1/51. Since November 2022, Ngidi has bowled over ten overs in an innings only twice, facing challenges due to injuries, including a groin issue that kept him out from mid-November 2024 to January 2025.
This year, Ngidi participated in five matches in the SA20 league and played in all of South Africa's Champions Trophy games. He also bowled two overs in a rain-affected warm-up match against Zimbabwe in Arundel. However, concerns remain regarding his ability to sustain effectiveness over extended spells, particularly during the crucial third, fourth, and fifth spells that may be necessary in the final.
In contrast, Dane Paterson has demonstrated his durability over the past season, bowling 68 overs in two home Tests during the 2024-25 summer and taking 13 wickets at an impressive average of 16.92. However, the team's management's aim to strengthen the batting lineup and achieve a better balance in the bowling attack ultimately led to his exclusion.
At 36 years old, Paterson is nearing the end of his international career and has not been selected for the upcoming Test series against Zimbabwe later this month.