South Africa Include Rabada in Preliminary Squad for Australia Test Series

Kagiso Rabada has been named in South Africa’s preliminary Test squad for the three-match series against Australia, beginning October 9. The fast bowler is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during winter training, and his availability for the opening Test will be determined through an intra-squad match next week.

“We will give it as much time as humanly possible, but we also don’t want to make a call based on desperation,” said Shukri Conrad, South Africa’s head coach. “Based on how the three-day match goes, a day or two after that, I reckon we’ll make a call.”

Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, and Kwena Maphaka, all nursing hamstring problems, have not been considered. Instead, Anrich Nortje, no longer centrally contracted to CSA, is set to play his first Test since March 2023, having been included in an extended squad featuring seven pacemen.

“Anrich is as pedantic and professional as they come. He’s got spreadsheets detailing all the work he’s done. I’m very comfortable he’s done everything necessary,” Conrad said. “We just need to assess the intensity of his training and whether a Test match is the right introduction back to international cricket.”

Gerald Coetzee, who returned from injury in the first ODI against Australia last week, was selected after last playing a Test in November 2024. Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, and Dane Paterson, part of South Africa’s World Test Championship final squad, complete the pace attack.

The sole uncapped player is top-order batter Marques Ackerman, who has scored over 1,000 runs for South Africa A and will compete for a top-three spot with Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and Mulder. Recent form could give him the edge.

“On the batting front, we’ve stuck with our core group,” Conrad said. “It’s great to have Marques in the squad. His leadership of the SA ‘A’ side and his performances with the bat have earned him this opportunity. We’re looking forward to having him in the Test environment.”

David Bedingham is also in contention for a middle-order spot after scoring twin hundreds for Western Province in the latest round of domestic first-class cricket. Dewald Brevis, who was in South Africa’s most recent Test squad that won in India, has been omitted, with Conrad saying they view him more as a subcontinent specialist in the longest format.

“It’s a long summer, so I’m sure we’ll see him at some stage. The blunt answer is I don’t think he’s one of our best Test batters. I think there are other guys better suited to South African conditions. Brevis is probably more suited to Test cricket in the subcontinent,” Conrad said.

“ODI cricket is a different story. You’ll see him at some stage. In Tests, he’s a bit of a Rafael Nadal — a clay court specialist.”

Conrad also remained non-committal about the No. 3 position.

“We’ve had a few guys do the No. 3 job for us. In India, we flip-flopped between Wiaan and Stubbo. I think it’s a global problem — people play their card at No. 3. We need to look at our bowling attack to determine the balance of the side. I’ll be very surprised if Tristan Stubbs isn’t in the starting XI.”

“[Bedingham at No. 3] is a conversation we’ve had. I see him as the type of player who could do that job.”

South Africa have named three spinners — Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy — all of whom played a role in the last World Test Championship cycle. With early-season conditions expected to shift, especially at coastal venues, two of the three could find a place in the XI.

“Everything is a possibility. That’s why we named an extended squad. If Harmer and Maharaj are two of the best five bowlers to win a Test, I’m not going to rule that out. And if your next question is whether I’m going to ask the groundsman to tailor-make a wicket for spinners, the answer is no.”

South Africa’s Test squad will assemble in Durban on October 1.

South Africa squad for Australia Tests

Temba Bavuma (capt), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

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