South Africa name 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 9 October. 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.

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.

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.

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."

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

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