SA vs AUS Tests: South Africa name Kagiso Rabada in preliminary squad

Kagiso Rabada (Pic: X/@ICC)

South Africa will take on Australia in a three-match Test series. The first match is scheduled to begin from October 9 at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Cricket Stadium in Durban.

Ahead of the series, lead pacer Kagiso Rabada has been included in South Africa's preliminary squad. However, his availability for the first match will be assessed during the intra-squad match next week.

Currently, the pacer is recovering from the hamstring injury that he sustained during the winter training. On the other hand, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka, who are recovering from hamstring injuries have not been included in the squad.

The squad also features the likes of Anrich Nortje, who is no longer a centrally contracted player for Cricket South Africa. He is in line to make his first Test appearance since March 2023.

Gerald Coetzee has also been named in the squad. His last Test appearance was in November 2024. Recently, he returned to international cricket from injury in the first ODI match against Australia.

Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Dane Paterson, who was part of South Africa's squad for the World Test Championship final, complete the pace-bowling options.

The only uncapped player is top-order batter Marques Ackerman, who has scored more than 1000 runs for South Africa A, and will be competing for a top-three place with Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Mulder. Recent form could see Ackerman nudge ahead of them.

South Africa have also named three spinners in Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy, all of whom featured during the previous World Test Championship cycle.

With early-season conditions expected to offer some assistance to spin, particularly with all three Tests scheduled at coastal venues, South Africa could consider playing two of the three spinners in their XI.

The Proteas will assemble in Durban on October 1.

South Africa's preliminary squad for Test series against Australia

Temba Bavuma (captain), 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, Kyle Verreynne.

(With ANI Inputs)