South Africa will defer the decision on Kagiso Rabada’s inclusion in the first Test against Australia until the last possible moment, as confirmed by batting coach Ashwell Prince. Rabada, who has been out of cricket since the IPL in May due to a hamstring injury, has not played a red-ball match since South Africa’s tour of Pakistan last October.
The 18-player squad named by South Africa was recently trimmed, with Tony de Zorzi excluded due to his own hamstring issue. However, Rabada got some productive bowling in during an intra-squad match and seems to be in good shape. “He bowled really well, and he’ll continue training with us up to the game,” Prince mentioned in Durban, site of the series start on Friday.
The initial plan to narrow the squad to 15 has been revised, retaining all 17 players for potential selection. Prince explained that maintaining the full lineup ensures enough bowlers during the Test series. “With domestic T20 cricket ongoing, they’ve more to gain by training here with red balls,” he stated.
Rabada’s fitness to handle long bowling spells is under scrutiny, given his year-long absence from red-ball cricket due to injuries. His last opportunity came during South Africa’s tour of Pakistan. “It’s clear he isn’t at full fitness yet, but he’s progressing well,” Prince shared. “He’ll practice with the squad this week, and we’ll decide on him closer to the match.”
While the team’s batting order is kept under wraps, Prince has a rough idea of the lineup but remains tight-lipped. Uncapped Marques Ackerman emerges as a strong contender for the No. 3 spot, potentially debuting on his home ground. “He’s excelled in that position and is eager to move the game forward,” praised Prince. “He’s shown his readiness through his performance in domestic cricket.”
This series against Australia marks South Africa’s return on home soil since securing the World Test Championship title, having defeated Australia at Lord’s. Currently second in the WTC standings for the 2025-2027 cycle, they have 10 matches left, eight of which are at home before January, followed by two away games in Sri Lanka.
