Rabada Out, Nortje In: South Africa's Bold Gamble for First Australia Test

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-09

South Africa's cricket fans woke up to some surprising news this week. Kagiso Rabada, the team's premier fast bowler, will sit out the first Test against Australia at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. In his place, Anrich Nortje returns to the red-ball format after more than three and a half years away. Captain Temba Bavuma named his starting eleven on October 8, 2026, and the three-match World Test Championship series begins the very next day. ### Why Rabada Is Missing Rabada suffered a hamstring injury during winter training back in June 2026. He hasn't played competitive cricket since representing the Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in May. His last Test appearance was during South Africa's tour of Pakistan in October 2025. The fast bowler was a hero in South Africa's World Test Championship final victory over Australia at Lord's in June 2025, where he took nine wickets. But this time, he'll be watching from the sidelines. Rabada did return to bowling during an intra-squad practice match last weekend. He also completed a training session at Kingsmead on Thursday. However, captain Bavuma chose to rest him rather than risk further muscle damage. Bavuma confirmed that Rabada remains under the complete care of team doctors until they issue an official medical clearance. The team management hopes Rabada can return for the second Test in Gqeberha, which starts on October 18. ### Nortje's Comeback Anrich Nortje last played a Test match against the West Indies in March 2023. The 32-year-old pacer built his match fitness during the European T20 Premier League in the Netherlands and Ireland last month. He regularly bowled deliveries exceeding 93 mph during net sessions on Wednesday. Bavuma praised Nortje's genuine pace and described him as an X-factor bowler. The team's medical staff will monitor his bowling workload closely during the match due to his history of back stress fractures. > "Nortje brings a different dimension to our attack," Bavuma said. "His pace can change a game in a single spell." ### Tactical Bowling Selections South Africa selected two specialist spinners: Keshav Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer. Harmer replaced fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who also sits out with a hamstring injury. Maharaj and Harmer last bowled together in a Test match against India in November 2025. Marco Jansen and seam-bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder complete the fast bowling unit alongside Nortje. Selectors chose Mulder ahead of Corbin Bosch because Mulder offers stronger batting depth at number six. Wicketkeeper Kyle Verreynne bats at number seven behind Mulder. ### Top-Order Batting and Match Context South Africa's opening batting partnership includes Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton. David Bedingham takes the number three batting position. Captain Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs complete the middle order at numbers four and five. Marques Ackermann joins Gerald Coetzee, Dane Paterson, Senuran Muthusamy, Corbin Bosch, and Rabada on the reserve bench. This series marks the first Test meetings between South Africa and Australia on South African soil since the 2017/18 tour. South Africa recently gained confidence by defeating Australia 2-1 in a three-match One Day International series. The first Test starts on October 9 at Kingsmead, with the series moving to Gqeberha and Cape Town for the remaining matches. South Africa will be hoping their bold selection pays off against the current points table leaders.