Durban, October 8 (Daily Kiran) : South Africa has revealed its playing XI for the first match of the three-Test series against Australia, set to begin this Friday in Durban. Notably, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been excluded from the lineup, while Anrich Nortje makes his return after more than three years away from Test cricket.
Rabada, who has been recovering from a hamstring injury, participated in training and bowled in the nets but did not reach full speed. Batting coach Ashwell Prince indicated that a decision on Rabada’s participation would be made as late as possible, but ultimately, he was not included in the team.
Despite this setback, South Africa is hopeful that Rabada will be fit for the second Test, scheduled to take place in Gqeberha. Captain Temba Bavuma noted that Rabada was very close to selection for the first Test. “This was not an easy decision,” Bavuma commented to reporters. “We opted for a cautious approach to give him a few extra days to reach 100% fitness. Once he gets the green light, we expect him to be in the starting lineup.”
On the other hand, Nortje is making a comeback to the Test team. He last played a red-ball match against the West Indies in March 2023 in Centurion. Recently, he showcased his skills in the inaugural European T20 League with the Rotterdam Dockers. His impressive speed has earned him a spot over players like Dane Paterson and Gerald Coetzee.
Bavuma expressed confidence in Nortje’s abilities, stating, “It’s hard to overlook his X-factor. There are very few players who can bowl faster than 150 km/h, and as a batsman, I wouldn’t want to face that kind of bowling. Although he hasn’t bowled many overs with the red ball recently, he has been working closely with the bowling coach. His performance in the nets has been very impressive, which is why we made the considered decision to include him.”
South Africa’s bowling unit maintains a balance of pace and spin. The pace attack features key options, including Marco Jansen, while the spin responsibilities will be handled by experienced left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer.
Additionally, fast-bowling all-rounder Vian Mulder will serve as the fifth bowling option, providing South Africa with added flexibility in their bowling combination.
South Africa’s playing XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Vian Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Anrich Nortje.
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