Rabada boost for under pressure South Africa

Gqeberha is the kind of place where the choice you make from a restaurant menu is likely to be unapologetically unavailable. That includes brands of beer that, while widely available elsewhere in South Africa, are described as “niche” in these benighted parts.

South Africa knew the feeling in Durban. What they wanted in the first Test was Kagiso Rabada. But he was unavailable because of a hamstring injury. That’s hardly niche — six of the country’s internationals, five of them fast bowlers, have succumbed to the hamdemic.

Rabada’s fitness was confirmed on Saturday. That must mean he will be in the XI, which has yet to be announced. Rabada has managed to lift the spirits of cricketminded South Africans, his teammates included, without bowling a ball.

That’s what star players do. Especially when a lot of lifting is required. And it is because Australia outplayed the home side in all departments in Durban, where they won by 214 runs.

At least that’s the big picture. Focus more finely and the difference between the teams comes down to Matt Renshaw, who delivered a masterclass in Test batting — punish the bad ball, defend the good nut, take your ones and twos when you can get them, don’t try to force the issue — to score 190 and 82. Aiden Markram’s 75 in the second innings was the only other score of more than 50 in the match.

The St George’s Park pitch is likely to offer similar opportunities to build an innings, albeit the surface could be a touch slower. And might not see much action in the first two days because of the weather, as you will know if read below.

If you do that you will also learn that South Africa’s XI could be significantly different from the side who did duty in Durban. Evidence of that is that Temba Bavuma declined to name his team at his captain’s press conference on Saturday, as he has tended to do in recent seasons.

The likely weather is a complicating factor. This is the only ground in South Africa were selecting a second spinner is always part of the pre-match conversation. But not if everyone is going to sit around and watch rain for two days.

South Africa have won two of the three Tests against Australia at this venue in the modern era, or since readmission. But the Kingsmead result has skewed any expectation that that equation would continue.

South Africans, for so long used to their team faltering under pressure, enjoyed the happy ending their fairytale finally had at Lord’s last July when the Proteas won the WTC final. Against Australia, no less.

A corner had been turned, the nation hoped. But here’s the thing about corners — there’s always another one coming. It, too, will have to be turned for the faith to be kept. Australia have turned many. South Africa just the one. Another is approaching at St George’s Park over the course of the next five days.

When: October 18 to 22, 2026; 10am local/8am GMT/1.30pm IST

Where: St George’s Park, Gqeberha

What to expect: Rain. A 55% chance of the stuff has been forecast for Sunday, rising to 80% on Monday. That will change the thinking about team balance at what is ordinarily South Africa’s best ground for spinners.

Team news:

South Africa: Kagiso Rabada is set to return from a hamstring injury at the expense of Simon Harmer. With Kyle Verreynne dropped, Ryan Rickelton looks like to move from an opening berth to No. 7. That means Matthew Breetzke could open. Marques Ackerman looks likely to debut.

Possible XI: Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Marcus Ackerman, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortjé.

Australia: Cameron Green is still out with an abdominal problem. So the visitors could stick with the side who won at Kingsmead.

Possible XI: Nic Maddinson, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

What they said:

“The bowlers feed massively off him. He leads the attack in everything that he does and brings an extra level of confidence to the unit. There’s a lot of belief in KG.” — Temba Bavuma on the highly anticipated return of Kagiso Rabada.

“I know KG a little bit and it doesn’t take much to get himself up for the contest. He’s a class player. No doubt he’ll be a challenge.” — Pat Cummins on South Africa’s ace.