Big picture: A salivating match-up
Time is supposed to heal all wounds. And eight years is a long time. But
Australia‘s return to
South Africa for a major Test series between last year’s WTC finalists, that will likely shape the next final, has still been shadowed by the
sandpaper series of 2018.
Some of the major protagonists return in Steven Smith and Australia’s veteran bowlers, while Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada and Keshav Maharaj may also be experiencing some déjà vu.
As intriguing as
revisiting those murky waters might have been for media and fans alike, this series has far greater implications on a cricket front for both playing groups. South Africa are the Test champions having beaten this Australian side to win that title
at Lord’s only 17 months ago. But they have hardly played Test cricket since and have not had a match at home in that time. A chance to knock off Australia again on home soil and build towards back-to-back finals is a unique opportunity for Bavuma’s men in what will be a bumper summer of Test cricket at home.
Australia are on an odyssey of their own, chasing what Mitchell Starc suggested
could be cricket’s version of a grand slam. Away wins against South Africa, India and England as well as a second WTC is on the table in a 12-month stretch for a veteran group that wants to etch their legacy in stone without any caveats attached.
They stumbled at the start line, losing a home Test to Bangladesh,
in Darwin, which has sparked alarming rhetoric in Australia and globally about whether this team is on the edge of a cliff rather than greatness. Bangladesh, like South Africa at Lord’s last year, exposed obvious weaknesses in Australia’s batting and ground down an ageing attack on a flat surface.
The blueprint is there for South Africa to do it again, but there are question marks on them too. They have not played Test cricket since November last year and have not played in home conditions since January 2025. The batting unit is as uncertain as Australia’s, with
Tony de Zorzi’s injury adding to the intrigue. The attack is far less daunting than Australia’s, for the Durban Test at least, with
Kagiso Rabada not cleared to play. Lungi Ngidi is already out of the series.
Adding to the intrigue is the unknown of the early-October conditions in Durban. South Africa are going in with two specialist spinners in Maharaj and Simon Harmer, something Australia themselves are considering after the former scythed through their ODI line-up
on the same ground a fortnight ago.
If history is any guide, the first Test won’t be legacy-defining in isolation. Australia famously won the opening Test in Durban in 2018 before losing both the series and their dignity over the next three Tests. That Australia have been notorious slow starters in recent series and that South Africa come in cold only adds to an already salivating match-up.
South Africa WWWLW (last five Tests, most recent first)
Australia WLWLW
In the spotlight: Marco Jansen and Marnus Labuschagne
The
last time South Africa played Test cricket
Marco Jansen was player of the match with a six-wicket haul and 93 with the bat. The last time South Africa played a Test in Durban he was player of the match
with 11 wickets including 7 for 13. With Rabada absent, Jansen will lead the new-ball attack having taken key wickets in the WTC final last year. At No. 8 his batting could be crucial to shaping the Test as it was
in Guwahati last year. Australia respect him highly and know he is a danger man. His form, especially
in the ODI series with the bat, shows he does not fear them at all.
The spotlight has not left
Marnus Labuschagne for months. His selection in the squad was met with uniform criticism from the Australian public. He knows he needs runs to justify his place at No. 3. There was never any doubt he would play the first Test and his place became even more assured following
Cameron Green’s injury and a
brisk century in the tour game in Potchefstroom. But there are no questions on his ability against domestic bowlers. He has continued to dominate that level throughout his three-year Test century drought. Australia need him to post a big score in the first Test to at least firm up one piece of the batting puzzle that has looked more like an unsolvable riddle to Australia’s selectors.
Team news: Nortje returns, Australia wait
Bavuma
confirmed his XI a day out from the game with two quicks and two spinners supported by allrounder Wiaan Mulder. Anrich Nortje
returns to Test cricket after three-and-a-half years while David Bedingham will slot in at No. 3.
South Africa: 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 David Bedingham, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 Wiann Mulder, 7 Kyle Verreynne (wk), 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Simon Harmer, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Anrich Nortje
Pat Cummins said Australia had their XI in mind but wanted to give it one more day. Based off the practice game, Beau Webster could bat as high as No. 5 to replace Green with Cooper Connolly sliding in at No. 7 and offering some left-arm orthodox to assist Nathan Lyon as the lone spinner. It is not inconceivable that
Nic Maddinson comes in to bat at No. 5 with Webster remaining at No. 7. Matt Kuhnemann remains an outside possibility but including him would be a major shift for Australia.
Australia: (probable) 1 Travis Head, 2 Matt Renshaw, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Beau Webster, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Cooper Connolly, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Pitch and conditions: A little rain forecast, turn expected
The pitch had a decent covering of grass on it a few days out, and there is some rain forecast for day two. Both sides expect there to be spin on offer at some point during the Test but how early it will come into play is a little unknown. Bavuma suggested it would emerge later in the contest.
Stats and trivia: Australia like Durban
“It’s our first time playing Test cricket since we’re the WTC champions here at home. So we’d like to celebrate that moment with our local fans. Hopefully the people in Durban come out in support tomorrow.”
Temba Bavuma hopes the Dubran crowd will play 12th man on Test return
“Each rivalry is a little bit different. India, you have a billion fans coming up against you, England, you have the history. South Africa, I think we always play a very similar style of cricket, even the personalities sometimes are quite similar…so I feel like that’s always made a really good contest.”
Pat Cummins on what makes this rivalry unique
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