Live Update: Rabada’s availability for first Australia Test to be decided ‘as late as possible’ The fast bowler has not played red-ball cricket in almost a year since South Africa’s tour to Pakistan last October The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball period, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 The standards by which Harmanpreet Kaur was eventually judged was reflective of what she had helped create as ctain Harmanpreet Kaur walks off the field after India’s big win against Netherlands, India Women vs Netherlands Women, T20 World Cup 2026, Leeds, June 17, 2026 Mandhana, who has been part of the side since 2013, has previously led India in 18 T20Is and four ODIs Smriti Mandhana looks on in the field, India vs South Africa, Women’s World Cup final, Navi Mumbai, November 2, 2025 Ind vs Zim – Niki Prasad, Jintimani Kalita and Nandani Sharma the new faces in Smriti Mandhana-led white-ball sides Shafali Verma has been elevated to the vice-ctaincy of the T20I side, while Dee Sharma will do the job in the ODI side for the games against Zimbabwe India U-19 ctain Niki Prasad is all smiles, India vs South Africa, Women’s Under-19 T20 World Cup warm-ups, Malaysia, January 15, 2025 Harmanpreet Kaur ctained India to back-to-back Asian Games gold medal, India vs Sri Lanka, Asian Games women’s competition final, Nisshin, September 22, 2026 Everyone thought he was a late-order hitter and an occasional bowler.
West Indies – and India too – found out in the first T20I that Naman Dhir is a match-winning offspinner too Naman Dhir picked up two key wickets on debut, India vs West Indies, 1st T20I, Lucknow, October 6, 2026 Shreyas Iyer hammered a 42-ball century to help India over the line, India vs West Indies, 1st T20I, Lucknow, October 6, 2026 Tanmay Baloda picked up eight wickets in the second Australia Under-19 innings to set up a target of just 11, which India Under-19 knocked off in just five balls India Under-19 star Lakshya Raichandani has scored prolifically over the past year, moving from one format to the other without a pause, seemingly without any problems Lakshya Raichandani tonned up in the second innings, Sri Lanka Under-19 vs India Under-19, 2nd Youth Test, 3rd day, Colombo, July 22, 2026 Rajat Patidar scored a valiant fifty in India A’s chase of 275 but they slid to a 125-run defeat in the first unofficial ODI Nathan McSweeney hits through the off side, India A vs Australia A, 1st one-dayer, Puducherry, October 6, 2026 Priyansh Arya is in India A’s squad to face the visiting Australia A side for three one-dayers, and trusts his high-risk-high-reward game to give him the results Priyansh Arya plays down the ground, Sri Lanka A vs India A, 1st match, One-day tri-series, Dambulla, June 9, 2026 Scott will feature in the one-day series against India A after his exploits in the Big Bash League and recent unofficial Test series in Puducherry After years of setbacks and self-imposed pressure, a new outlook has given Renshaw the balance to embrace an unexpected three-format international comeback For the players coming into the Australia side after Sandpergate, it was bittersweet, but also a dream come true The Australian team during the national anthems, South Africa v Australia, 4th Test, Johannesburg, 1st day, March 30, 2018 Cameron Green reacts after copping a blow while batting, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 The ghosts of Sandpergate still hang over the rivals as Australia make it back to the country for the first Test tour since 2018 Temba Bavuma and Pat Cummins, the two ctains, wait to walk out with their players, Australia vs South Africa, World Test Championship final, Lord’s, June 11, 2025 Varun Chakravarthy is also back for India after missing the Asian Games, while Ravi Bishnoi has been left out Bhuvneshwar Kumar ran through Mumbai Indians’ top order, Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians, IPL, Raipur, May 10, 2026 Dhruv Jurel has been named the ctain of the side, while Rishabh Pant has been picked but his participation will be subject to fitness Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul had a job to do after being in the field for close to two days, India vs South Africa, 2nd Test, Guwahati, 2nd day, November 23, 2025 Rishabh Pant is back at Delhi Citals from Lucknow Super Giants, and Yuvraj Singh is expected to join the franchise as batting coach Tanmay Baloda picked up eight wickets in the second Australia Under-19 innings to set up a target of just 11, which India Under-19 knocked off in just five balls Kagiso Rabada’s fitness for the opening Test against South Africa will be confirmed as close to the game as possible Kagiso Rabada picked up five-fors in consecutive Lord’s Tests, Australia vs South Africa, World Test Championship final, Lord’s, June 11, 2025 South Africa will make a call on Kagiso Rabada ‘s availability for the first Test against Australia “as late as possible,” according to batting coach Ashwell Prince . Rabada has not played any cricket since the IPL in May and injured his hamstring in winter training, which ruled him out of last month’s ODIs. He was named in an extended 18-player South African squad, from which Tony de Zorzi has now been withdrawn after a hamstring concern of his own.
On the other hand, Rabada played in a two-day intra-squad match on Sunday and Monday. “He came through quite nicely and bowled really well,” Prince said in Durban, where the series begins on Friday. “He’ll continue to be involved in training over the next few days leading up to the match.” Initially, South Africa had planned to whittle down the squad to 15 players but have decided to keep all 17 players together for the series, specifically for the benefit of having seven quicks to pick from.
“From the bowler’s point of view, domestically there’s T20 cricket going on at the moment so we feel that they’ll be better served here, where they will bowl more red balls in training,” Prince said. “And if they’re not in the Test lineup, then they can continue bowling during the Test match in the nets, just to get the loads up.” Time in the legs is a particular concern for Rabada’s fitness for the Test series. He has not played red-ball cricket in almost a year since South Africa’s tour to Pakistan last October.
He was ruled out of the India matches that followed with a rib injury and has also not played any first-class in the interim. All indications are that South Africa want to make sure he is ready for long spells before including him in a Test XI. “Fair to say that he’s obviously not going to be at 100% straight away, but he is looking good,” Prince said.
“He will train with the squad for the rest of the week and we will leave a call to be made as late as possible.” South Africa are also keeping their cards close to their chest about their batting line-up, with Prince confirming he has a “good idea” who will make up the top six but “can’t divulge it”. When Prince was asked whether any of Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder and David Bedingham are in line for the position at No. 3, Prince mentioned uncped batter Marques Ackerman as another candidate, which bodes well for him making his debut on his home ground.
“He’s obviously played really well in that position (No. 3) as well, and can bat in that position. We have a very good idea of who’s going to slot in there,” Prince said.
“I’ve always been a fan of his. And to his credit, he’s done what any player who wants to play Test cricket needs to do: bang the door down by weight of runs. He’s an attacking player.
He likes to move the game along. He’s played very well, he’s got a lot of experience and there’s an petite, not just for him but for a lot of players within our domestic structures to want to be involved in the Test squad.” The Australia Tests will be South Africa’s first at home since winning the World Test Championship title last June, against Australia at Lord’s. They are currently second on the 2025-2027 WTC points table with 10 more Tests to play in the ongoing cycle – eight at home between now and January, as well as two away in Sri Lanka.
The fast bowler has not played red-ball cricket in almost a year since South Africa’s tour to Pakistan last October Kagiso Rabada picked up five-fors in consecutive Lord’s Tests, Australia vs South Africa, World Test Championship final, Lord’s, June 11, 2025 The fast bowler has not played red-ball cricket in almost a year since South Africa’s tour to Pakistan last October The fast bowler has not played red-ball cricket in almost a year since South Africa’s tour to Pakistan last October Rabada suffers right hamstring injury during winter training Ackerman, Bedingham turn up the heat in South Africa’s Test selection race Nortje: ‘I’ll be very excited if I can put my Test c on again’ Firdose Moonda is ‘s senior correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket
