South Africa vs Australia First Test Preview: WTC Rivals Meet

South Africa and Australia renew their Test rivalry at Kingsmead in Durban on Friday, 9 October, with the opening match carrying significant World Test Championship consequences.

Australia enter the three-Test series at the top of the 2025–27 World Test Championship standings. South Africa, the defending champions, are second. The teams have not met in Test cricket since South Africa beat Australia by five wickets in the 2025 World Test Championship Final at Lord’s.

That result gives the series an obvious backdrop, but both sides arrive in Durban with more immediate selection questions. South Africa are monitoring Kagiso Rabada’s recovery from a hamstring injury, while Australia are dealing with injuries to Cameron Green and Josh Inglis.

The first Test starts at 9.30 am local time, which is 8.30 am BST. Cricket South Africa has confirmed Kingsmead will host the match from 9–13 October before the series moves to Gqeberha and Cape Town.

World in Sport readers can follow the latest developments across our cricket coverage throughout the series.

Why the Durban opener matters

This is more than the start of another bilateral Test series.

Australia currently lead the World Test Championship standings, while South Africa remain well placed to defend the title they won at Lord’s in June 2025. The three Tests therefore offer both sides the chance to strengthen their position in the race for the 2027 final at The Oval.

South Africa’s victory in the last World Test Championship Final also adds recent history to the contest. Aiden Markram scored 136 in the successful fourth-innings chase as the Proteas defeated Australia by five wickets.

World in Sport covered that victory in our report on South Africa’s World Test Championship triumph.

There is also a more recent reference point. South Africa won the ODI series against Australia 2–1 immediately before the switch to red-ball cricket. They took the first match in Durban by 67 runs. They won the second in Johannesburg by 32 runs before Australia won the final ODI by 45 runs under the DLS method.

Those matches cannot predict what will happen over five days, but Australia have already had an early look at South African conditions.

South Africa face a major Rabada decision

South Africa named Rabada in an 18-player preliminary squad despite the fast bowler continuing his recovery from a right hamstring injury.

His availability remains one of the most important questions before the first ball.

Rabada has not played since the Indian Premier League in May, but South Africa have continued to allow him to prove his fitness for Durban. Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka were not considered for the preliminary squad while rehabilitating hamstring injuries.

That leaves South Africa with choices over how to structure their attack.

Anrich Nortje has returned to the Test squad and is targeting his first appearance in the format since 2023. The fast bowler said his preparation had been focused on red-ball cricket well before his recall.

Gerald Coetzee and Dane Paterson have also returned to the Test setup, while Marco Jansen provides another pace option and valuable lower-order batting.

South Africa also have considerable spin depth. Keshav Maharaj is joined in the preliminary squad by Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy.

That could prove significant at Kingsmead.

The surface used for the first ODI produced substantial assistance for spin. Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin combined for six wickets as Australia were dismissed for 230 in a 67-run defeat.

Australia are not assuming the Test surface will behave identically, but their selectors have openly considered the possibility of significant turn in Durban.

South Africa have also included uncapped batter Marques Ackerman. He earned his first Test call-up after scoring more than 1,000 runs across his previous 10 red-ball appearances for South Africa A at an average of 82.92, including four centuries.

Captain Temba Bavuma, Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne give the hosts several established batting options.

Labuschagne strengthens his case for Australia

Australia completed their only red-ball warm-up match with several useful performances before travelling to Durban.

Marnus Labuschagne made the strongest statement.

The 32-year-old scored 111 against a Cricket South Africa Invitational XI in Potchefstroom. Australia reached 368 for six after the hosts had declared on 318 for seven, with the two-day fixture ending in a draw.

Labuschagne’s innings came at an important time.

He had retained his place in the Test squad despite a lean period, but his warm-up century strengthened his position ahead of the series opener.

Steve Smith made 61, while Alex Carey scored 57 and Beau Webster made 42 before retiring.

Australia still have uncertainty elsewhere in their batting order.

Green suffered a lower abdominal strain during the third ODI and did not take part in the warm-up match. His chances of recovering in time for Durban appear limited, although Australia had not officially ruled him out as of 5 October.

Webster would provide a natural all-round option if Green cannot play.

Matthew Renshaw, meanwhile, came through the warm-up fixture after suffering a blow to his right hand during the final ODI. He made 32 and reported that tests had shown no serious damage.

Inglis ruled out of the first Test

Josh Inglis will definitely miss the Durban Test because of a fractured right index finger.

Australia responded by adding Nic Maddinson and wicketkeeper Sam Harper to the touring squad. Inglis is likely to have the injury reassessed before the second Test.

Harper provides wicketkeeping cover for Carey.

Maddinson gives Australia another batting option and could make his first Test appearance since 2016 if selected. His ability against spin was one reason selectors brought him into the squad as they considered the conditions expected in Durban.

Australia do not need to make that call immediately.

Labuschagne’s century and Renshaw’s successful return strengthen their options, while Webster and Cooper Connolly can both provide all-round balance if Green is unavailable.

Spin could shape Australia’s selection

Australia’s bowling attack presents another decision.

Captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood give the visitors an experienced pace group. Scott Boland and Michael Neser provide further depth.

Nathan Lyon remains the first-choice spinner, but Australia also selected left-armer Matthew Kuhnemann for the tour.

Connolly offers another slow-bowling option.

Picking two specialist spinners would force Australia to reconsider the balance of their attack. Selecting Connolly alongside Lyon could offer greater flexibility without sacrificing as much batting depth.

The evidence from the ODI at Kingsmead makes the debate relevant, but conditions over five days remain difficult to predict.

Durban once carried a strong reputation for seam bowling. Spin has become increasingly influential there in more recent first-class cricket, although October is an unusual time for a Test at the ground. Kingsmead has never previously hosted a Test in October.

That makes firm predictions about the surface risky.

Maharaj and Lyon could become central figures

If the pitch does offer sustained turn, the contest between the two spin attacks could become one of the defining features of the Test.

Maharaj knows Kingsmead exceptionally well. The Durban-born left-arm spinner has spent much of his domestic career at the ground and has developed into one of South Africa’s most important Test bowlers.

Australia have already experienced his control during the ODI series.

Lyon offers Australia a very different challenge. His off-spin gives Cummins a bowler capable of operating for long spells while also attacking both edges of the bat.

Both teams have the option of adding a second specialist spinner.

South Africa could pair Maharaj with Harmer, while Australia have Kuhnemann available alongside Lyon. Much will depend on the final surface and the balance each side wants from its lower order.

Starc returns to a productive venue

Australia also have positive memories of their previous Test at Kingsmead.

They beat South Africa by 118 runs in the opening Test of the 2018 series. Starc took nine wickets across the match and played a major role as Australia took a 1–0 lead.

South Africa recovered from that defeat to win the series 3–1.

The rivalry has changed significantly since then, but several players from that tour remain involved. Markram, Bavuma, Maharaj and Rabada are still part of South Africa’s plans, while Cummins, Hazlewood, Lyon and Starc remain central to Australia’s attack.

The most relevant meeting is much more recent.

South Africa’s five-wicket victory at Lord’s in 2025 denied Australia a second successive World Test Championship title and established the Proteas as the team every challenger is trying to displace.

First Test could be decided by adaptability

Neither side can rely entirely on reputation in Durban.

South Africa have home conditions, a strong spin department and recent ODI success against the tourists. They also have uncertainty surrounding one of their leading fast bowlers.

Australia bring an experienced Test attack and sit at the top of the World Test Championship standings, but injuries have complicated their batting plans.

The pitch may settle much of the selection debate.

If Kingsmead continues to favour spin, Maharaj and Lyon could become central figures while both teams consider additional slow-bowling options. If the new ball offers more movement, the pace attacks may instead control the opening stages.

For two sides occupying the leading positions in the World Test Championship race. The first morning in Durban will provide an immediate test of how quickly they can read those conditions and adjust.