South Africa's Hamstring Curse Strikes Again Before Australia Test

Dr. Annelies De Vos · 2026-10-04

### Another One Bites the Dust: De Zorzi Out of First Test South Africa's batting lineup just took a hit they really didn't need. Tony de Zorzi is out of the first Test against Australia with a hamstring injury, and honestly, it feels like we've seen this movie before. The match starts Friday, October 9, at Kingsmead in Durban. De Zorzi hurt himself while fielding in the third ODI in Potchefstroom. Cricket South Africa called it "mild" in a statement on Saturday, but mild or not, he's missing the series opener. That's a tough break for a 29-year-old who was probably itching to prove himself against the Aussies. He left the field during Australia's innings and never got a chance to bat in South Africa's reply to a target of 323. Not exactly the send-off you want before a Test series. ### Wait, This Sounds Familiar... Here's the thing that's really raising eyebrows: De Zorzi is the fifth South African player to deal with hamstring trouble in the past two months. The other four? Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, and Kwena Maphaka. All fast bowlers. So now you've got four quicks and a top-order batter all dealing with the same issue. That's not bad luck. That's a pattern. And patterns make people ask questions. ### Marques Ackerman Gets His Shot With De Zorzi sidelined, Marques Ackerman suddenly finds himself with a real opportunity. The No. 3 batter hasn't played a Test for South Africa yet, but he's been piling up runs for South Africa A. His career-best 256 against Bangladesh A? Yeah, that'll get you noticed. Ackerman is now in contention for a spot in the final XI, competing alongside Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, and David Bedingham. Bedingham could slot in at No. 5, which gives the selectors some flexibility. CSA has named an 18-player preliminary squad but hasn't replaced De Zorzi. They'll trim it down to 15 early next week. Sometimes you just have to trust the guys you've got. ### Rabada's Status Still Up in the Air Rabada hurt himself during winter training, and his availability for Durban will be decided after a two-day intra-squad match starting Sunday. He's been ramping up his training load, which is a decent sign, but nothing's confirmed yet. Captain Temba Bavuma didn't sugarcoat it. He said the injuries have messed with the team's plans, but frustration won't change anything. He also mentioned that the squad has been in touch with the medical team, who are doing everything they can. "Another player now has the opportunity to step in and perform when required," Bavuma said. That's the kind of glass-half-full mindset you need when your roster looks like a hospital ward. ### Ngidi, Maphaka, and Baartman Are Done for the Series If you were hoping to see Ngidi, Maphaka, or Baartman at any point during this series, don't hold your breath. All three are out for the entire series. They're expected to return 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 injury, saying he's not allowed to say more, but he did offer this: "So far, so good." That comment came two days before CSA confirmed De Zorzi's injury. Timing, huh? ### What Happens Next? South Africa will name their final squad early next week. Rabada's status hinges on how he looks in that intra-squad match. The first Test starts Friday at Kingsmead. One thing's clear: South Africa needs to figure out why hamstrings are dropping like flies. Because right now, it's not just bad luck. It's a problem.