Anrich Nortje, 32, is back in the South Africa lineup for the Kingsmead Test, after a year out of the game, while Kagiso Rabada continues to sit on the sidelines with a lingering hamstring injury. — Rabada, who claimed nine wickets in South Africa’s final‑day heroics at Lord’s last year, was a key piece in that triumph, and his absence feels like a missing engine.
Coach Shukri Conrad has dubbed the series of hamstring knocks a "pandemic," and the team’s fast‑bowling department is thinner than usual. The 32‑year‑old Nortje has made a comeback after back stress fractures, proving his speed in the Netherlands and Ireland T20 Premier League, and he’s been hailed as an "X‑Factor" by captain Temba Bavuma.
Bavuma said, "There are not many guys around bowling at 150 km/h plus," while Australia’s Pat Cummins is "super‑excited" about the clash between the world’s top two teams. Cummins hinted that the Australian side will decide their XI on Friday morning, adding that they need to improve the grind of a full Test series.
South Africa has drafted two specialist spinners, left‑arm Keshav Maharaj and off‑spinner Simon Harmer, alongside a frontline of Nortje, Marco Jansen and seam‑all‑rounder Wiaan Mulder. The balance will be crucial as the match opens the busy 12‑month Test calendar for the Aussies, who also face tours in India and England.
With the first Test in South Africa since the controversial 2017/18 series, the stakes are high for both sides. The outcome will dictate the momentum heading into the next leg of the World Test Championship and set the tone for the rest of the season.
The next fixture in the series is scheduled for the following week in Melbourne, where South Africa will test their resilience against a well‑equipped Australian side.