The key facts

  • Kagiso Rabada will return to the South Africa squad for the second Test against Australia at St George's Park after recovering from a hamstring injury
  • South Africa lost the first Test in Durban by 214 runs; Bavuma is reshuffling the batting line-up, including Matthew Breetzke and debutant Marques Ackerman
  • Australia captain Pat Cummins confirmed that Matt Renshaw will remain at number five after scores of 190 and 82 in Durban; Cameron Green is still not ready due to an abdominal injury

Rabada returns from injury

Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will return to the South Africa squad for the second Test against Australia, which begins on Sunday at St George's Park, team captain Temba Bavuma said. Rabada did not take part in the first Test in Durban, where South Africa suffered a defeat by 214 runs, but trained with the team as he completed his recovery from a hamstring injury. Bavuma noted that Rabada is 'raring to go' and pointed to his outstanding record against Australia: 58 wickets at an average of 21.39 in 11 Tests, including nine wickets in the victorious World Test Championship final at Lord's in 2025 and 11 wickets in the 2017/18 series, when South Africa came back after losing the first Test in Durban.

Bavuma on Rabada's impact and the batting reshuffle

'The bowlers feed off him a lot. There is an aura around KG and a big belief, and that rubs off on the other players,' Bavuma said. He also said that batsman Matthew Breetzke and Marques Ackerman, who has not previously played at Test level, will feature in the reshuffled batting line-up. South Africa are looking to bat longer after a poor batting performance in Durban. 'The first innings is where we failed. Conceding the advantage on such a wicket was simply criminal,' the captain added.

Line-ups may be announced at the last moment

Given the likelihood of rain on the first two days of the match, both Bavuma and Australia captain Pat Cummins said they would postpone the final determination of the line-ups until Sunday.

Cummins on Renshaw and injured players

Cummins said that Matt Renshaw, named player of the match in Durban with scores of 190 and 82, will continue to bat at number five, although he is usually an opening batsman in Test cricket. 'He just said: