Durban: Australia’s first Test tour of South Africa in eight years begins on October 9 at Kingsmead, with the three-match series carrying significant weight in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle. It is the first red-ball meeting between the sides on South African soil since the 2018 ball-tampering tour, and the first since South Africa beat Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s in June 2025.
The series opens in Durban from October 9 to 13, moves to St George’s Park in Gqeberha from October 18 to 22, and concludes at Newlands in Cape Town from October 27 to 31. Australia played a two-day warm-up against a CSA Invitational XI in Potchefstroom on October 3 and 4, which ended in a draw with the tourists leading on first innings.
South Africa’s squad: Rabada’s fitness the big question
South Africa have named an 18-man preliminary squad led by Temba Bavuma, though Tony de Zorzi has been withdrawn with a hamstring injury, leaving 17 active players. The major talking point is Kagiso Rabada, included despite recovering from a hamstring injury. Batting coach Ashwell Prince said the fast bowler came through a two-day intra-squad match in Durban on October 4 and 5 well, but a final call on his availability for the first Test will be made as late as possible.
Anrich Nortje earns a recall more than three years after his last Test in March 2023, while uncapped batter Marques Ackerman is rewarded for a heavy run of form for South Africa A, including a century in England and a double-hundred against Bangladesh A. Gerald Coetzee returns two years after his last Test, and veteran seamer Dane Paterson is also included.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (captain), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi (withdrawn – hamstring), Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
Australia’s squad: Maddinson and Harper the surprise picks
Australia have named an 18-man squad under Pat Cummins, with two eye-catching selections. Nic Maddinson returns to the Test setup after being diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2025 and undergoing chemotherapy; he has since returned via the Big Bash with Sydney Thunder and was named New South Wales captain. Sam Harper, the wicketkeeper-batter, earned his call-up with 128 for Australia A against India A in Puducherry.
Josh Inglis will miss the first Test with a fractured right index finger and joins from the second Test onwards, while Cameron Green’s availability for the Durban opener is in doubt after a lower abdominal strain sustained in the final ODI. Michael Neser returns after missing the Bangladesh series through injury, and Matthew Kuhnemann provides back-up spin behind Nathan Lyon.
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (from second Test), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
What to watch
Only five members of Australia’s squad were part of the 2018 tour – Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc, Smith and Renshaw. Marnus Labuschagne, retained despite a lean run of 392 runs in his last 20 innings, has never played a Test in South Africa. Marco Jansen has already promised a “heated” series, telling cricket.com.au there would be “fire being delivered from both ends.”
With Australia top of the WTC standings and South Africa second, the series is likely to shape the race for the 2027 final.
Schedule
1st Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead, Durban
2nd Test: October 18-22, St George’s Park, Gqeberha
3rd Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town
