Mark Boucher said this week that Quinton de Kock is to be released from the South African Test captaincy, and South Africa have a fair bit of time to choose their next leader. Rohit Sankar rates the potential candidates.

Aiden Markram

“I would give an absolute arm and a leg to be able to do it,” Aiden Markram said last year when the Test captaincy debate was raging, but quickly added he wasn’t desperate for the job. At the time, Markram’s place in the side itself was under scrutiny after poor returns overseas and issues against spin. This Pakistan Test series has cast those doubts away for the near future at least. Markram had a really good Test series and the fact that in came in the sub-continent further makes him a solid pick in the XI. Add in the age factor, his previous success at the helm as an under-19 captain and Markram races ahead of the rest to be next in line as South Africa’s Test captain. There’ll still be questions around his appointment, but as a long-term prospect at a time the team is in transition and with the next World Test Championship cycle coming up, no time’s better for Markram.

Rating: 9/10

Temba Bavuma

Constantly under the microscope for his less-than-ideal returns, Temba Bavuma has been in the discussion for the Test captaincy role and rightly so. Not only has he led his franchise to back-to-back title wins, but Bavuma is known as a grafter, one who stands up when the team needs him to. The crisis man may not have outstanding batting returns, but Bavuma’s numbers should be viewed in context and given the circumstances they have come in, it’s harsh to judge his place in the XI.

The next Test captain? Maybe. On purely cricketing terms, it’s a debatable call. However, his appointment could also be seen as a lift for the large majority of South Africa’s population, one that could spur a revolution of sorts for kids to take up the sport. That said, Bavuma would still need to show he can be a certain first-choice player in the Test XI ahead of some of the names on the bench.

Rating: 7/10

Dean Elgar

The most experienced South African Test cricketer after Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar is a true South African, complete with the fighting spirit. If South Africa do feel Markram needs more time to set himself up for the job, another temporary appointment could be on the way. Elgar has led the Test team before and has been a terrific player at the top of the order for the side. He has shown his ability to rise to the occasion several times while making sacrifices for the team and a temporary gig to prepare the next long-term captain would be something a 33-year-old Dean Elgar wouldn’t mind taking up.

Rating: 8/10

Rassie van der Dussen

Like Markram, Rassie van der Dussen quashed doubts around his ability to survive on tough tours with a successful Pakistan series and has been one of South Africa’s most reliable players across formats in tumultuous times. Van der Dussen brings with him tons of experience, but is still fresh enough in international cricket to not be bogged down by South Africa’s struggles in recent times in the longest format of the game. The 32-year-old loves a good ol’ fight, and captaincy might just be another challenge in this late bloomer’s career. Lack of experience, though, could still count against him.

Rating: 5/10

Keshav Maharaj

“Not many people know that, but those close to me know that I do want to captain the South African team across all three formats,” a frank admission from Keshav Maharaj last year came as a surprise to many. A sidekick in a team of fast bowlers, Maharaj has time and again stepped up to show what he brings to the table and South Africa are finally acknowledging his presence in the Test side.

He led the Dolphins to a title win in the Momentum One Day Cup, albeit without actual wins in the knockout stages with the tournament suspended after the group stage due to the Covid-19 pandemic. But, the tournament was long enough for Maharaj to earn an ODI recall. Few work harder than the left-arm spinner, and if given the job, Maharaj might actually surprise a few. Though unlikely, appointing the 31-year-old might just be a masterstroke if South Africa do decide to go left field.

Rating: 7/10