Rabada Out, Nortje In: What This Means for South Africa's Test Hopes

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-09

South Africa's first Test against Australia at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban is just hours away, and the team news has sent ripples through the cricket world. Captain Temba Bavuma named his starting eleven on October 8, 2026, and the big story? Kagiso Rabada is out, and Anrich Nortje is back. ### Rabada Ruled Out with Hamstring Injury Kagiso Rabada will miss the series opener due to a hamstring injury he picked up during winter training back in June 2026. He hasn't played any competitive cricket since turning out for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in May. His last Test appearance was during South Africa's tour of Pakistan in October 2025. You might remember Rabada's heroics in the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's in June 2025, where he took nine wickets. But hamstring injuries are tricky, and rushing him back could risk further damage. Rabada did return to bowling in an intra-squad practice match last weekend and completed a training session at Kingsmead on Thursday. However, Bavuma decided to rest him rather than risk aggravating the injury. The team management hopes he'll be fit for the second Test in Gqeberha, which starts on October 18. ### Nortje's Long-Awaited Return Anrich Nortje last played a Test match against the West Indies in March 2023. That's more than three and a half years ago! The 32-year-old pacer built up his match fitness during the European T20 Premier League in the Netherlands and Ireland last month. During net sessions on Wednesday, Nortje regularly bowled deliveries exceeding 93 mph (150 km/h). Bavuma praised his genuine pace and called him an X-factor bowler. But given Nortje's history of back stress fractures, the medical staff will monitor his workload closely. ### Tactical Bowling Selections South Africa opted for two specialist spinners: Keshav Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer. Harmer replaced fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, who is also sidelined with a hamstring injury. Maharaj and Harmer last bowled together in a Test 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. ### Top-Order Batting and Match Context South Africa's opening partnership features Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton. David Bedingham comes in at number three. Captain Temba Bavuma and Tristan Stubbs complete the middle order at 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, 2026, at Kingsmead. > "Anrich brings that raw pace and fear factor. He's a genuine match-winner for us," said Bavuma. With Rabada out and Nortje back, South Africa's bowling attack has a different look. Can Nortje stay fit and fire? Will the spinners exploit the Durban conditions? We'll find out soon enough. One thing's for sure: this series just got a lot more interesting.