Temba Bavuma of South Africa looks on prior to day 3 of the ICC WTC final match between South Africa and Australia at Lords Cricket Ground on June 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo/Getty Images)
Australia captain Pat Cummins said the visitors would wait until Friday morning before deciding on their team While Bavuma announced South Africa’s playing XI.
Coach Shukri Conrad has described the hamstring injuries affecting his fast bowlers as a “pandemic”. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said Rabada, who took nine wickets when South Africa beat Australia in last year’s WTC final at Lord’s, would be given more time to recover. Bavuma welcomed the return of the 32-year-old, calling him an “X-Factor” player.
Star fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will miss the first Test at Kingsmead as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. South Africa Team: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Anrich Nortje
South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in London last year, but will enter the series with a slightly inexperienced batting line-up and a depleted fast-bowling attack.
WTC champions South Africa will face current World Test Championship points table leaders Australia in Durban on Friday, with the first Test marking the return of the rivalry to South Africa for the first time since the controversial ‘Sandpapergate’ tour of 2017/18.