De Zorzi Out, Ackerman In: South Africa's Test Gamble

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-04

South Africa's batting order just took a hit. Tony de Zorzi is out of the first Test against Australia with a hamstring injury, and the match starts Friday, October 9, in Durban. That's a tough break for a team already dealing with a rash of hamstring problems. De Zorzi hurt himself while fielding in the third ODI in Potchefstroom. Cricket South Africa called it a mild strain, but mild or not, he's missing the series opener. He left the field during Australia's innings and didn't bat in South Africa's chase of 323. Now he's watching from the sidelines. ### The Hamstring Curse Continues Here's the thing: De Zorzi is the fifth South African player to tweak a hamstring in the past two months. The other four? Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, and Kwena Maphaka. All fast bowlers. That's a lot of hamstring trouble for one squad, and it's starting to feel like more than bad luck. CSA has named an extended 18-player preliminary squad. They haven't replaced De Zorzi yet. The final 15-man group will be decided early next week. So for now, the door is open for someone else to step up. ### Marques Ackerman Gets His Shot Enter Marques Ackerman. The 29-year-old No.3 batter hasn't played a Test for South Africa yet, but he's been knocking on the door. He earned his spot with a mountain of runs for South Africa A, including a career-best 256 against Bangladesh A. That's not a typo. Two hundred and fifty-six. With De Zorzi out, Ackerman has a real chance to make his Test debut in Durban. He's in contention for a place in the final XI alongside Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, and David Bedingham, who could also slot in at No.5. It's a big opportunity for a guy who's been grinding in the domestic circuit. ### What About Rabada and the Others? Rabada is a different story. He hurt himself during winter training but is still in the preliminary squad. South Africa will decide on his availability for Durban after a two-day intra-squad match that starts Sunday. Rabada has ramped up his training workload ahead of that match, which is a good sign. Captain Temba Bavuma didn't hide his frustration. He said the injuries have disrupted the team's plans, but frustration won't change anything. He added that the squad has been in touch with the medical team, who are doing their best. And he pointed out that another player now has a chance to step in and perform. That's the mindset you need. Ngidi, Maphaka, and Baartman are out for the entire series. All three are expected to be back for the home summer, which includes tours by Bangladesh and England. Ngidi spoke at the launch of the 2027 ODI World Cup schedule on Thursday and said he's already back running. He didn't share details about the extent of his injury, but he described his recovery as "so far, so good." Those comments came two days before CSA confirmed De Zorzi's injury. ### The Bottom Line South Africa will name their final squad early next week. A decision on Rabada will follow the intra-squad match. The first Test starts at Kingsmead on Friday. It's a challenging start to a big series, but cricket is a game of opportunities. One player's setback is another player's breakthrough. Ackerman knows that better than anyone right now. For more sports news and updates, keep an eye on our blog.