Nortje in line for surprise Test return; Rabada still uncertain

Nortje in line for surprise Test return; Rabada still uncertain

Anrich Nortjé could play a Test for the first time since March 2023 in South Africa’s upcoming series against Australia, while Kagiso Rabada’s involvement remains uncertain. Both were named in a preliminary squad of 18 on Monday. The group will gather on October 1 in Durban, where the series starts on October 9.

Head coach Shukri Conrad stated that the team will undergo training days, a two-day intra-squad match, and scenario-based training to assess the group and conditions before settling on the final 15.

The preliminary squad includes seven fast bowlers—more than a third of the group—due to hamstring injuries affecting Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman, and Lutho Sipamla. Besides Rabada and Nortjé, the bowling options include Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee (last Test: November 2024), Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, and Dane Paterson.

Conrad noted that the larger bowling group provides flexibility to cover all bases and determine the best combinations for the conditions. While Rabada would typically be a first-choice selection, the two-day intra-squad match will provide a clearer picture of his match readiness for the first Test.

Nortjé is viewed as the best like-for-like replacement for Rabada. His last of 19 Tests was also his last first-class match; since then, he has played 104 white-ball games, including three ODIs and 18 T20Is.

The batting lineup is more settled, with Marques Ackerman as the only uncapped player included. Ackerman has scored three centuries in six first-class innings this year, including a career-best 256 in over six hours while captaining South Africa A against Bangladesh in Pretoria in August. Dewald Brevis, who was in the squad for the recent series in India but did not play, misses out.

South Africa preliminary Test squad:
Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortjé, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.