Weakened South Africa still favourites in second Zimbabwe Test

A new captain. A different spinner. A side who are now even further from their strongest XI than they were a game ago. Yet South Africa will still be heavily favoured to beat Zimbabwe when the teams meet again on Sunday (July 6).

They will do so at the same ground where they completed their hammering of the home side by 328 runs on Tuesday. Keshav Maharaj, who led them to that triumph, won't be around because of a groin strain. In his absence, Wiaan Mulder will become the 42nd man to captain South Africa.

That fact alone tells us much about where South African cricket is now. Before Shukri Conrad's appointment as head coach and sole selector in January 2023, Mulder wasn't a fixture in the side. He batted mostly at No. 7, sometimes a place lower, and usually bowled first-change. Now he's the captain, the preferred No. 3, and not to be disrespected with the ball.

Conrad has given this team plenty, but none of his gifts has been as important as the belief he has instilled. Without that, they would not have beaten Australia in the WTC final at Lord's last month. Nor would they have won as convincingly against Zimbabwe despite missing seven of the players who had helped secure the mace.

These are bracingly fresh times for supporters of a team who have failed, time and time again, to win when it matters. That changed at Lord's. Without trying to be disrespectful, Zimbabwe are not of the same magnitude as opponents. But if you want to be taken seriously as a heavyweight side - as the WTC champions - you need to thump them like South Africa did last week: by 328 runs, and that after being reduced to 55 for 4.

The man who did more than any other to make that happen was Corbin Bosch, who followed his unbeaten 100 off 124 with a haul of 5 for 43 in a dozen dazzling overs. And all that in only his second Test.

Bosch's father, Tertius, played in South Africa's return to Test cricket in a match against West Indies in Barbados in April 1992. He was quick and nasty, but - unlike his son - he couldn't bat for toffee.

Piet Botha, South Africa's bowling coach, has a lasting, physical memory of Bosch senior, a contemporary, who died in February 2000. "Some of my fingers are skew because they got broken," Botha told reporters. "He was one of the guys who broke my fingers - my right middle finger, at Centurion. He was sheer pace. He was a lovely man and Corbin's exactly the same.

"He bowls with good pace and he's a very good team man. He also seems to be a very good all-rounder. I have fond memories of Tertius; I played a lot of cricket with and against him. To share these situations and moments with his son is very special."

Tertius Bosch, fine man that he certainly was, would have been proud not only of the player his son has become but also of the team they both call their own.

When: July 6 to 10, 2025; 10am Local Time (8am GMT, 1.30pm IST)

Where: Queens Sports Club, Bulawayo

What to expect: An oxymoron of a pitch in that tends to be outrageously docile. Somehow that doesn't often get in the way of a positive result.

Team news:

Zimbabwe:

Brian Bennett is still concussed, courtesy of Kwena Maphaka in the first Test. Prince Masvaure came in a sub and should keep his place.

Possible XI: Prince Masvaure, Takudzwanashe Kaitano, Nick Welch, Sean Williams, Craig Ervine (c), Wesley Madhevere, Tafadzwa Tsiga (wk), Wellington Masakadza, Vincent Masekeza, Blessing Muzarabani, Tanaka Chivanga.

South Africa:

Wiaan Mulder inherits the captaincy, temporarily anyway. Out go Matthew Breetzke and Kwena Maphaka, who underwhelmed in the first Test. In come debutants Lesego Senokwane and Prenelan Subrayen. Senuran Muthusamy replaces the injured Keshav Maharaj.

Confirmed XI: Tony de Zorzi, Lesego Senokwane, Wiaan Mulder (c), David Bedingham, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Codi Yusuf.

What they said:

"I think the conditions are going to be very similar. Chatting to the groundsman, he says there's less moisture in this pitch than last week's." - Wiaan Mulder prepares his bowlers for lots of hard work.