Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of South Africa’s opening Test against Australia, set to begin in Durban this Friday. The fast bowler has been sidelined due to a hamstring injury sustained during winter training. Since featuring in the IPL at the end of May, Rabada has not played any matches and last represented South Africa in Test cricket during last October’s tour of Pakistan.
Rabada did participate in South Africa’s intra-squad training match and a training session at Kingsmead this past week. Yet, the South African team has decided to allow him additional recovery time to ensure his full fitness for a busy home season comprising eight Tests. “We did go the conservative route and give him a couple of extra days to get as close as he can be to 100% fitness,” remarked Temba Bavuma, the South African skipper. Still, Bavuma is non-committal about Rabada’s appearance in the second Test scheduled for 18th October.
Bavuma elaborated, “We’re confident in our medical team to get him to the place where we need him to be but they haven’t officially handed over Kagiso, if I could put it that way. He’s under their control. Obviously for us, as soon as he gets the green light, we expect him to be within that starting line-up.”
Anrich Nortje, absent from Test cricket since March 2023, is set to make his return to South Africa’s XI in Rabada’s absence. Despite not being centrally contracted with Cricket South Africa, Nortje impressed during nets sessions in Durban, exhibiting notable pace, which secured his selection. “A guy like Anrich is hard to ignore. He’s X-Factor,” stated Bavuma. Nortje, who has had a history of injuries, particularly stress fractures in his back, will see his workload carefully monitored by South Africa’s medical team.
Wiaan Mulder has been chosen due to his dual capabilities, especially his batting. Bavuma commented, “Wiaan gives you a little bit more with the bat. You need someone that can score big runs. Wiaan has shown he can do that. He’s a good slip catcher as well, so I think that also counts in his favour, but the overriding factor was his ability with the bat.”
South Africa’s XI also includes two spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, set to exploit the conditions expected on the coastal pitch. Bavuma explained, “Those two spin twins have added another dimension to our bowling attack. As much as we’ve always been about fast bowling, when conditions allow for spinners, they’ve played an effective role.”
The batting line-up features Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton as openers, with the in-form David Bedingham taking the fourth spot. Uncapped cricketer Marques Ackermann, along with Gerald Coetzee and others will remain on the bench.
South Africa’s XI for the first Test against Australia:
1. Aiden Markram
2. Ryan Rickelton
3. David Bedingham
4. Temba Bavuma (c)
5. Tristan Stubbs
6. Wiaan Mulder
7. Kyle Verreynne (wk)
8. Marco Jansen
9. Keshav Maharaj
10. Simon Harmer
11. Anrich Nortje
Firdose Moonda is Cricinfo’s senior correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket.
