Proteas Name 18-Man Preliminary Squad For First Australia Test

The Proteas have named an 18-man preliminary squad for the first Test against Australia, with Anrich Nortje returning to the red-ball setup, Marques Ackerman earning a maiden call-up and Kagiso Rabada included as he continues his recovery from injury.

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Temba Bavuma will captain South Africa for the opening Test of the three-match series, which gets underway at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on 9 October. The series forms part of the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship cycle and will be the first Test meeting between the sides since South Africa defeated Australia in the 2025 WTC final at Lord’s.

The squad contains much of the core that has established the Proteas among the world’s leading Test sides, but there are also several intriguing selections ahead of a huge home series.

Nortje Back In The Test Picture

One of the biggest talking points is the return of Anrich Nortje.

The express quick is back in South Africa’s Test setup alongside Gerald Coetzee and Dane Paterson, significantly strengthening the pace options available for the first Test.

Nortje’s raw speed gives the Proteas something different, particularly with uncertainty still surrounding Rabada. If fully fit and firing, a pace attack featuring some combination of Rabada, Nortje, Marco Jansen, Coetzee and Corbin Bosch gives South Africa plenty of ways to attack Australia’s batting order.

Rabada has been included in the preliminary squad but remains on the comeback trail from the right hamstring injury that ruled him out of the ongoing ODI series. CSA previously said his Test availability would depend on his rehabilitation, meaning his inclusion is encouraging without yet guaranteeing that he’ll take the field at Kingsmead.

Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka were not considered as they continue rehabilitating their respective hamstring injuries.

Maiden Call-Up For Marques Ackerman

The new face in the group is Dolphins batter Marques Ackerman, the only uncapped player among the 18.

Ackerman has earned his maiden Test call-up following an impressive run for South Africa A and now gets the opportunity to push his case on his home ground in Durban.

His inclusion adds further competition to an already crowded batting group.

Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, David Bedingham and Tristan Stubbs are all included, while Kyle Verreynne remains the specialist wicketkeeper in the squad.

Exactly how South Africa arrange that batting order will be one of the major selection questions before the Test.

Plenty Of All-Round Options

Another striking feature of the squad is its versatility.

Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch all provide genuine seam-bowling options while strengthening the batting order, giving the selectors considerable flexibility when deciding how to balance the XI.

That could prove particularly valuable at Kingsmead.

South Africa also have two experienced spin options in Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, while Senuran Muthusamy offers another spin-bowling all-round option.

With an 18-man preliminary squad, the Proteas can wait to assess conditions and player fitness before settling on their final combination.

A Massive Series For The World Test Champions

There is considerable significance attached to Australia’s visit.

South Africa began their WTC title defence with a 1-1 draw against Pakistan followed by a 2-0 series victory over India, and CSA has emphasised the importance of continuing that momentum during the home summer.

Australia will also arrive with a formidable squad.

Pat Cummins leads a touring party featuring Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon, while Steve Smith, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne and Cameron Green provide plenty of experience with the bat.

The first Test therefore promises to renew one of Test cricket’s fiercest rivalries with plenty at stake.

And after South Africa’s famous victory over Australia in the WTC final at Lord’s, the tourists will hardly need reminding of what Bavuma’s men are capable of.

Proteas Preliminary Squad – First Test vs Australia

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 Nortje
Dane Paterson
Kagiso Rabada
Ryan Rickelton
Tristan Stubbs
Kyle Verreynne