Recovering Rabada named in South Africa's preliminary squad for Australia Test

Kagiso Rabada has been named in South Africa's 18-member preliminary squad for the first Test against Australia, which begins on October 9. The upcoming series holds immense importance for both sides in their quest to secure a spot in the ICC World Test Championship 2027 Final.

Rabada is currently continuing his recovery from a right hamstring injury that has kept him sidelined, forcing him to miss the ongoing ODI series between South Africa and Australia. However, head coach Shukri Conrad indicated that the senior pacer will get an opportunity to prove his fitness through an intra-squad practice match prior to the opening Test.

While Rabada returns alongside fellow pacers Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee, and Dane Paterson, the Proteas will be without Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka, and Ottneil Baartman due to ongoing rehabilitation from their respective injuries. Nortje makes his comeback to the red-ball setup after last featuring in a Test match in 2023.

Discussing the selection strategy, Conrad stated that having a larger bowling group provides the flexibility to cover all bases and assess conditions. He noted that the two-day practice match will offer a clearer picture of Rabada's match readiness and help determine the best bowling combinations.

Uncapped batter Marques Ackerman has also earned a spot in the squad following impressive performances for South Africa 'A', including a career-best 256 against Bangladesh 'A' in August. Meanwhile, young rising star Dewald Brevis has been left out of the red-ball setup, with the coach noting he is not yet considered one of their best Test match options.