South Africa are hopeful that Kagiso Rabada will be fit for the second Test against Australia, just days after the pace spearhead was ruled out of the series opener at Kingsmead. The Proteas believe their chief bowling weapon could be back for the Gqeberha Test starting October 18.
Head coach Shukri Conrad gave an upbeat assessment of Rabada’s rehabilitation from the hamstring injury he picked up in training in mid-August. “It’s going quite nicely, the rehab and the programs that he’s on,” Conrad told the ICC. “I’d be very surprised if we didn’t see him during the Test series.”
Conrad added: “He’s such a huge player for us, but he seems to reserve his best for Australia.” The coach was confident the fast bowler would be ready in time.
Caution first in Durban
Rabada had been named in South Africa’s 18-member preliminary squad announced on September 28, with his availability for the opener to be assessed during the build-up in Durban. In the end, the team management chose not to risk him.
Captain Temba Bavuma said the side went the conservative route to give Rabada extra days to get as close to full fitness as possible, adding that as soon as he got the green light, he would be back in the starting XI.
Rabada’s absence was confirmed before the first Test, as we reported on October 8. Anrich Nortje took his place in the playing XI alongside Marco Jansen, with Wiaan Mulder completing the seam attack. Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj carried the spin duties.
South Africa’s fast-bowling stocks were already thin. Tony de Zorzi was ruled out of the Australia series with a hamstring injury earlier this month, and fellow pacers Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi missed out with similar injuries. Losing Rabada as well left the attack without its most feared weapon.
Why Rabada matters
The numbers explain the hope. Rabada has taken 58 wickets in 11 Tests against Australia at an average of 21.39, including a nine-wicket match haul in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s, which South Africa won by five wickets.
The stakes in this series are high. It is a rematch of that final, and both sides sit at the top of the WTC 2025-27 standings, with Australia first and South Africa second. The three Tests are being played at Kingsmead in Durban (October 9-13), St George’s Park in Gqeberha (October 18-22) and Newlands in Cape Town (October 27-31).
First Test state of play
In the series opener, South Africa’s bowlers had a testing first day without their spearhead. Australia reached 187 for six at stumps on day one, with Renshaw and Cummins staging a late rescue, as reported on October 9. Australia went on to win the opener by 214 runs, with Hazlewood taking six wickets in the second innings.
If Rabada returns for Gqeberha, South Africa’s attack gains its most proven match-winner just as the series reaches its middle leg. For Australia’s batters, that is a prospect they would rather not face.
When is the second Test between South Africa and Australia?
The second Test starts on October 18 at St George’s Park in Gqeberha and runs to October 22. The third follows at Newlands in Cape Town from October 27 to 31.
Why did Rabada miss the first Test?
He is recovering from a hamstring injury sustained in training in mid-August. The team management chose the conservative route to give him extra time to reach full fitness.
What is Rabada’s record against Australia?
He has taken 58 wickets in 11 Tests against Australia at an average of 21.39, including a nine-wicket haul in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s.
