South Africa head coach Shukri Conrad has provided an unusual explanation for Dewald Brevis’ omission from the preliminary Test squad for the upcoming home series against Australia, comparing the Chennai Super Kings star to tennis great Rafael Nadal.
Brevis, one of South Africa’s highly regarded young batters, was not included in the 18-player preliminary squad announced for the three-match Test series against Australia. The first Test is scheduled to begin on October 9, with South Africa preparing for a major home series against the Australians.
While explaining the selection decision, Conrad said the issue was not simply about Brevis’ talent. Instead, he pointed to the conditions in which South Africa will play and suggested that other batters currently offer stronger options for Test cricket on South African pitches.
Conrad said Brevis is probably more suited to playing Test cricket in the subcontinent. He then used Rafael Nadal’s record on clay courts as an analogy for the South African batter.
According to Conrad, Brevis in Test cricket is comparable to Nadal being particularly effective on clay. The comparison referred to suitability to playing conditions rather than a direct comparison between the two athletes.
The comments attracted attention because Nadal is widely associated with his exceptional record on clay courts, particularly at the French Open. Conrad used that association to explain his view that Brevis may be more effective in Test conditions outside South Africa than on the pitches currently available to the Proteas.
Conrad also indicated that Brevis has not been ruled out of South Africa’s Test plans for the longer term. He said the summer is long and suggested that the batter could still feature at some stage.
Brevis has played four Test matches for South Africa, all of them coming in 2025. He has scored 138 runs at an average of 23.00, with a highest score of 54. His Test career is therefore still in its early stages, and the selection decision does not represent the end of his prospects in the format.
The young batter has made a considerably stronger impression in limited-overs cricket. His aggressive batting style has helped establish him as one of South Africa’s notable young white-ball players.
Brevis also holds South Africa’s highest individual T20 International score. He scored an unbeaten 125 against Australia, demonstrating his ability to produce a high-impact innings in the shortest international format.
His association with the Indian Premier League has further increased his profile among Indian cricket fans. Brevis has represented Chennai Super Kings, adding another connection to Indian cricket after his emergence as a promising South African batter.
However, Test cricket presents a different challenge, particularly in South Africa. Batters are required to deal with pace, bounce, movement and changing conditions over long periods. Conrad’s comments indicate that the coaching and selection team currently believes other players are better equipped for those conditions.
South Africa’s preliminary squad for the Australia Test series includes experienced players as well as some players looking to establish themselves in the Test side. Kagiso Rabada was included despite currently dealing with a hamstring injury, with the selectors expressing optimism about his potential recovery.
Anrich Nortje is also in line for a Test return, while Marques Ackerman is the only uncapped batter in the preliminary group. The squad reflects South Africa’s intention to maintain a strong core while also providing opportunities to players who have performed in domestic and South African A-team cricket.
Conrad’s decision regarding Brevis also needs to be viewed in the context of the South African team’s wider planning. The coach has previously indicated that players outside the main ODI squad would receive opportunities in domestic first-class cricket.
Brevis is therefore expected to continue his red-ball development rather than simply being removed from consideration. Regular first-class cricket could provide him with additional opportunities to adapt his game to longer-format conditions and strengthen his case for future Test selection.
The situation is also different from Brevis’ earlier omission from South Africa’s ODI squad for the Australia series. In that case, Conrad explained that the selection process was partly about giving players opportunities and assessing options ahead of future tournaments. Brevis was subsequently included for South Africa’s ODI series against Namibia.
The latest Test decision has therefore generated more discussion because of Conrad’s specific comments about conditions. Rather than questioning Brevis’ overall potential, the coach focused on which batters he considered the better options for the current South African environment.
Brevis’ international career remains at an early stage. At 23, he has considerable time to develop his red-ball game and improve his record in first-class and Test cricket.
His limited-overs performances have already demonstrated his ability to score quickly and play attacking cricket. The challenge now is to translate those skills into the longer format, where patience, technique and adaptability are equally important.
The comparison with Nadal has consequently become the most talked-about aspect of Conrad’s explanation. Nadal built a reputation for exceptional performances on clay, and Conrad used that sporting example to describe what he sees as Brevis’ current suitability for particular Test conditions.
It remains to be seen whether Brevis will eventually establish himself as a regular member of South Africa’s Test team. For now, the selectors have chosen other batting options for the home series against Australia, while Conrad has indicated that Brevis remains part of the broader plans for the long season.
The Australia series will provide South Africa with an important opportunity to assess its Test batting combination at home. For Brevis, the next stage will likely involve continued first-class cricket and further opportunities to demonstrate that he can adapt his aggressive style to red-ball cricket.
As the Australia Test series approaches, the spotlight will remain on South Africa’s batting choices and on Brevis’ development. Conrad’s Nadal comparison has added an unusual angle to the selection story, but the underlying issue is the coach’s assessment of conditions and the current balance of the Test squad.
Brevis’ omission, therefore, should not be interpreted as a permanent decision on his Test career. His four-Test experience remains limited, and his future opportunities will depend on his performances in domestic first-class cricket and subsequent international selections.
