Kagiso Rabada is out for the first Test against Australia, forcing South Africa to pick two spinners. Anrich Nortje returns to the side after a long break. Bavuma said, “I think it was a calculated call to give Anrich Nortje a go.” David Bedingham also joins the team for this match.
Bavuma would not be drawn on whether Rabada would be available for the second or third Tests.
In Rabada’s absence, Anrich Nortje will play his first Test since March 2023, when he last faced West Indies. The injury-prone Nortje has limited himself mainly to T20 cricket in recent years, but Bavuma said the decision was a calculated one. “He doesn’t have the weight of overs under his belt of bowling with red-ball cricket. He’s been very impressive in the nets, so I think it was a calculated call to give Anrich Nortje a go.” Nortje has been training with a red ball under national bowling coach Piet Botha to build his workload.
David Bedingham also returns to the side and will bat at three. The 32-year-old has not played a match in the current WTC 2025-27 cycle, with his last appearance coming against Zimbabwe in July 2025.
The selection of Maharaj and Harmer reflects Kingsmead’s recent favouring of spin. The pair last played together in South Africa’s final Test last November, a 408-run win in Guwahati that sealed a first series win in India in 25 years.
Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton will open, with Bavuma, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder and Kyle Verreynne forming the middle order. Marco Jansen partners Nortje in the pace department, with Mulder providing the all-round option.
SA Playing XI for 1st Test vs AUS:
Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.