Proteas captain Temba Bavuma named his starting team for the first Test against Australia at Kingsmead in Durban, IOL Sport reported. Australia captain Pat Cummins said his side had not yet picked its team.
The match starts on Friday. It is the first Test between the two countries on South African soil since the 2018 tour.
Bavuma confirmed that fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will miss the opening Test. Rabada is recovering from a physical strain. He was ruled out to give him time to be fully fit for the second Test.
According to IOL Sport, Anrich Nortje is set to play without any red-ball overs behind him. The report said South Africa’s top order has also been open to sudden collapses.
Cummins said the Australian selectors wanted one last look at the Kingsmead pitch before naming their side. Australia must change their middle order because Cameron Green and Josh Inglis are not available.
Australia arrive in Durban after a home Test defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin. It was their first loss to Bangladesh in a Test played in Australia.
Cummins was also asked about a call from former teammate Usman Khawaja before the team left for South Africa. Khawaja told him that his coming autobiography, called Sabr, has a chapter on the 2018 ball tampering scandal.
“Yeah, he gave me a buzz… as always, no worries, you tell your story, that’s fine,” Cummins said.
He also made a joke about the Wallabies’ recent rugby win over the Springboks. “Remiss not to say it was a good win by the Wallabies last week, good way to start the series,” he said.
Cummins backed batter Marnus Labuschagne, who has gone a long time without a Test century. He pointed to Labuschagne’s hard work in the nets. He also mentioned a domestic hundred the batter scored the week before.
Several of Australia’s senior players are near the end of their careers. Steve Smith is 37, Mitchell Starc is 36 and Josh Hazlewood is 35. Cummins is 33 and leads the attack as well as the team.
Asked about his own future as captain, Cummins said he had no plans to step down yet.
“Definitely ask me again after these 17 Tests and I might have a different answer, but for now, no immediate plans… I’d love to be in Starchy’s position in three years’ time,” he said.
The 2018 series between the two sides turned bitter at this same ground. In that Test, Nathan Lyon dropped the ball on AB de Villiers after a run out. David Warner and Quinton de Kock also clashed in a stairwell.
That tour later led to the ball tampering scandal at Newlands in Cape Town.
South Africa go into the series as the World Test Champions. Both teams are playing for World Test Championship points in the race for the next final.
The first Test at Kingsmead begins on Friday morning.
Source: this article is based on reporting by IOL Sport. Image: IOL Sport. Written with the help of AI and published by the Tzaneen Voice Sports desk. See our Editorial Standards.
Tiyani Mathebula writes about sport for Tzaneen Voice. Tiyani covers Bafana Bafana, the Springboks, the Proteas and the PSL, along with athletics, tennis and local club sport. Match reports and previews focus on results, team news, fixtures and what each game means for South African teams and fans.