Rabada's back to bolster South Africa as Australia chase series win

Big picture: Hosts hope to fight back

The build-up to Australia's first Test in South Africa since 2018 had featured a heavy emphasis on what took place eight years ago. There is a sense of déjà vu as the two teams prepare in Gqeberha for the second Test. Just like in 2018, the tourists claimed a decisive 1-0 lead in Durban built on some excellent middle-order batting and disciplined fast bowling.

Matt Renshaw's stunning match - which included 190, 82 and two wickets - was the difference last week while Josh Hazlewood's career-best fourth innings haul ensured South Africa's defeat was far heavier than 2018. Aiden Markram's lone hand of 75 in the fourth innings almost mirrored his efforts of 143 in a fruitless fourth-innings chase in 2018.

Where the parallels diverge though is in the reaction of the home team to the Durban defeat. In 2018, there was only one change for the second Test with Lungi Ngidi replacing Morne Morkel. This time, there could be a number of changes.

Ryan Rickelton is also confirmed to keep wicket which suggests Kyle Verreynne will be left out. The decision to play two spinners in Durban backfired and will likely not be repeated on a surface that is expected to have a decent covering of grass and with wet weather also expected to play a part across the week.

Australia, for all the chaos of their selection dramas prior to Durban, look settled by comparison. Cameron Green is not available which means the middle-order squeeze will be delayed until at least the third Test. By that time they could have the series wrapped up and have edged another step closer to the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The one unknown is how well their ageing quicks recover on the short turnaround after a heavy workload bowling last on a flat pitch in Durban. There is no suggestion any will miss but the cumulative effect if they bowl first in Gqeberha could become a factor.

While it is now or never for the hosts in regards to the series, the match also has huge ramifications on the WTC table despite a lot of cricket still to be played in the cycle. A loss in Gqeberha will see South Africa slide to fifth behind Bangladesh and India while Australia can edge closer to a third successive final.

Form guide

South Africa LWWWL (last five Tests, most recent first)
Australia WWLWL

In the spotlight: Ryan Rickelton and Travis Head

Ryan Rickelton's returns of 0 and 2 in the opening Test were put under the spotlight. Since his 259 against Pakistan in January 2025 he has made just one half-century in 12 Test innings at an average of 25.72. His three single-digit scores have all come against Australia. The response from South Africa's hierarchy has been to give him the gloves, a role he has never filled in Test cricket, and potentially move him down the order, having not batted lower than No. 3 since October 2024 which was the only time he batted lower than No.5. Rickelton has vast experience in the dual role in white-ball cricket and first-class cricket. Twelve of his 19 first-class centuries have come while keeping. South Africa will want him to keep as well as Verreynne while providing more runs, with the latter averaging 20 over his last 13 innings without a half-century.

Travis Head is not under any pressure from a selection standpoint but the curious question of how to get the best out of him continues to remain unanswered. The spotlight is on the captain, coach and selectors as much as Head himself given he is Australia's most destructive match-winner with the bat. He is only three Tests on from his most recent hundred, which came opening the batting. But when you dig into when he gets his runs, the case for him to remain opener in all scenarios is less certain. He averages 23.66 opening the batting in the first innings of Tests and 54.69 batting at No. 5. In the second, third and fourth innings it is the inverse. He averages 57.86 opening compared to 33.46 at No. 5. Australia have talked about flexible batting orders endlessly. Will they finally make an in-game tactical decision and have Head bat No.5 in the first innings and open in the second, third and fourth? His record home and away is another area he would love to rectify. In Australia, he averages a formidable 51.86, with 11 of his 12 hundreds; while overseas, that figure is a far less imposing 31.62.

Team news: Rabada returns, Australia possibly unchanged

South Africa look set to ring in the changes with Breetzke called in to likely open the batting while Marques Ackerman is a chance to debut at No. 5. Rabada returns from his hamstring injury while it is unlikely South Africa will play two spinners. If they played just one, Senuran Muthusamy could come into the mix ahead of incumbents Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. Bavuma indicated that Anrich Nortje was good to go again despite 40 overs in Durban, his first Test for three years, so he could retain his place.

South Africa: (probable) 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Matthew Breetzke, 3 David Bedingham, 4 Temba Bavuma (capt), 5 Marques Ackerman, 6 Wiaan Mulder, 7 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 8 Marco Jansen, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Keshav Maharaj/Simon Harmer/Senuran Muthusamy, 11 Anrich Nortje

Pat Cummins also said he wanted to wait until the morning of the game to name his XI. Australia are in a good position to keep their XI unchanged, as Green is still unavailable due to his abdominal strain. Josh Inglis is fit to play as a bat but is unlikely to force his way in. Cooper Connolly is also available if they wanted an extra left-arm orthodox spin option in their top seven but it seems unlikely he would replace Beau Webster. The quicks have pulled up well and look set to go again with Scott Boland set to run the drinks for the fourth Test in a row, although the talk of four quicks is always there.

Australia: (probable) 1 Travis Head, 2 Nic Maddinson, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Matt Renshaw, 6 Alex Carey (wk), 7 Beau Webster, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Mitchell Starc, 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

Pitch and conditions: Rain forecast, surface well-grassed

The forecast is dicey for the first two days although how much rain arrives and how much play could be lost is hard to predict. The weather currently looks clear from day three onwards. Gqeberha has been dry in the build-up after rain through September. Though the surface looked dry, and ready to play on, from three days out there should still be a good covering of grass, but it is expected to be on the slower side despite the adjacent pitch used for centre-wicket having decent pace in it.

Stats and trivia

Quotes

"Playing in PE, it's one of the ones we look forward to. There's a bit of a different atmosphere with the band. Where we stay close to the mall, there's a lot more excitement from people. Hopefully that excitement translates to bums on the seats. It's a Sunday, day one. I don't know whether the weather is going to encourage people's enthusiasm. Generally, PE is decently attended."
Temba Bavuma on expectations for a crowd