Recovering Rabada named in S Africa’s preliminary squad for first Australia Test

Kagiso Rabada has been named in South Africa's 18-member preliminary squad for the first Australia Test, which will begin on October 9. The series will be important for both sides in their quest to feature in the ICC World Test Championship 2027 Final.

Rabada continues to recover from a right hamstring injury, which has kept him on the sidelines, including the ongoing ODI series between South Africa and Australia.

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However, the Proteas will be without the services of Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka and Ottneil Baartman, all of whom miss out as they continue their rehabilitation from their respective injuries.

Apart from Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee and Dane Paterson return to boost the pace setup.

Nortje will add some much-needed experience to the bowling lineup, having last featured for South Africa in a Test in 2023.

Discussing Rabada's selection and the bowling attack in general, head coach Shukri Conrad indicated that the senior pacer will have a chance to prove his fitness via the intra-squad practice game that will take place prior to the Test series.

Earlier, while speaking to the ICC, Conrad had stated that Rabada was recovering well ahead of the Tests.

"Having a larger bowling group gives us the flexibility to cover all bases. We have different options across the squad and the next week will give us an opportunity to determine which combinations are best suited to the conditions.

"We also want to give Kagiso every chance of being available for selection for the first Test, and the two-day game will give us a clearer picture of where he is in terms of his match readiness."

On Nortje's return to the Test setup, Conrad stated that the conversation for the 32-year-old's return to the longest format had been ongoing.

"During the ICC Men's T20 World Cup (2026), Anrich (Nortje) indicated that he still wanted to be available for all formats. It was about how we were going to monitor his fitness. So it's a great opportunity to get Anrich involved as soon as possible, being able to assess exactly where he is. Great to have someone of his caliber and pace available to us. We'll see how that goes, we'll monitor him for a week, and make decisions based on that."

Given that this will be Anrich Nortje's first first-class game since his last Test in 2023, there will be questions around his capability to go through the rigours of Test cricket.

Conrad backed Nortje's preparations for the longest format, but added that the team management would take on a call on the format best-suited for his international return, at a later date.

"He's as pedantic and as professional as they come. I've got spreadsheets and details detailing all of the works that he has done. Obviously, the intensity and loads at which international cricket is played, we've to match up to them.

"I'm very comfortable that he's done all the necessary work. But we've got a long summer of Test matches and ODIs, and we've got to see if a Test match is the best way to re-introduce him to the international fold or earmark something else. But I'm very happy with all the work Anrich has put it, and he has kept us in the loop."

Conrad also discussed the reason behind selecting a preliminary squad at an early stage, mentioning that the group would be trimmed further.

"We’ve selected a preliminary squad because we have an extended build-up to the first Test, with the group getting together in Durban on 1 October.

"We’ll have a couple of training days, a two-day intra-squad match and scenario-based training, which will give us an opportunity to assess the group and conditions before settling on our final 15."

South Africa have backed their core group in all the departments in their squad, including batting, with Marques Ackerman the only uncapped player in the unit. Ackerman impressed in recent outings for South Africa 'A' and has amassed more than 1000 runs in his last 10 red-ball appearances for the A team at an average of 82.92, including four hundreds and a career-best 256 against Bangladesh 'A' in August.

Conrad backed Ackerman to be an important asset for the side in the Test squad.

"It’s great to have Marques in the squad. The way he has led the SA ‘A’ side, both as captain and through his performances with the bat, has earned him this opportunity. We’re looking forward to having him in the Test environment."

South Africa's rising star Dewald Brevis isn't a part of the Test squad, after having been absent from the ODI series against Australia.

Discussing the young batter, who was the Player of the Series during South Africa's T20I tri-series win in Namibia, Conrad stated that Brevis will be in action later in the summer but still had some time before he could become a Test regular.

"Long summer, so he'll feature at some stage. But (with respect to the upcoming series), to be bluntly honest, I don't think he's one of the best Test match batters for us. We saw a glimpse of Dewald against Pakistan last year.

"I think he's more suited to get into the Test setup in the sub-continent, I don't think he's one that we are considering for Test cricket. ODIs, a different story, we'll see him at some stage during the summer."

South Africa have impressed in the starting stages of their home season, having taken an unassailable 2-0 lead over Australia in the ongoing ODI series.

Preliminary Proteas Men’s Squad - First Test v Australia

Temba Bavuma (c), 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, and Kyle Verreynne.

South Africa v Australia Test series schedule

First Test, 09-13 October, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second Test, 18-22 October, St George’s Park, Gqeberha

Third Test, 27-31 October, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town