DURBAN: South Africa and Australia resume a Test rivalry carrying the weight of history when the two sides meet at Kingsmead on Friday, in their first series in South Africa since the ball-tampering scandal of 2017-18.
Much has changed since the events that shook Australian cricket in Cape Town eight years ago. South Africa are now the world Test champions after beating Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s last year, while the visitors begin a demanding 12-month stretch that will also take them to India and England.
For Australia, the series is the beginning of a defining period for an ageing side. Mitchell Starc, 36, acknowledged the scrutiny surrounding the team’s veteran core but said there remained plenty to achieve. Australia have not won a Test series in South Africa since 2014, in India since 2004 or in England since 2001.
Starc went as far as to compare the prospect of Australia winning their three major away series while retaining the ODI World Cup to Rory McIlroy winning four golf majors in a year. The ambition is clear, but so is the scale of the challenge.
Australia also arrive looking to recover from a surprise home defeat by Bangladesh in August. Captain Pat Cummins said his side needed to become better at handling the less glamorous periods of Test cricket rather than relying on individual bursts of brilliance.
“A lot of our success has come off big moments,” Cummins said, citing Travis Head’s batting and Starc’s spells. “But I think we’ve got to get a little bit better ... getting into the grind.”
That could prove particularly important at Kingsmead, where conditions can fluctuate and the surface is expected to offer the spinners an increasing role as the match progresses. South Africa’s selection reflects that expectation: captain Temba Bavuma has named both Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer in the XI. The pair were instrumental in South Africa’s recent Test victories in India and also played an important role in the side’s recent ODI success against Australia.
The hosts, however, will be without their premier fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. The 31-year-old has been recovering from a hamstring injury and, despite returning to training and playing an intra-squad match, was left out as a precaution. He is expected to be considered for the second Test in Gqeberha, beginning on Oct 18.
Rabada’s absence places greater responsibility on Anrich Nortje, who returns to the Test side for the first time since 2023. Bavuma described him as an “X-Factor”, pointing to the pace Nortje can generate after working his way back from a series of injuries.
“There aren’t many guys around who are bowling 150 (kph) plus,” Bavuma said.
South Africa will pair Nortje with left-armer Marco Jansen and seam-bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, while Maharaj and Harmer provide the spin option. It is an unusual balance for a side traditionally built around fast bowling, but the Kingsmead conditions have encouraged South Africa to trust their spinners.
Australia face selection questions of their own. Cameron Green is unavailable with an abdominal injury and Josh Inglis has a broken finger, forcing the visitors to reconsider their batting order. Cummins said the selectors would wait until Friday morning before settling on their combination after another look at the pitch.
There is also uncertainty over whether Australia will field two specialist spinners, with Nathan Lyon potentially joined by left-armer Matthew Kuhnemann. Cummins said both remained possibilities depending on how the surface looked.
The shadow of Sandpapergate is unlikely to disappear completely. Cummins and South Africa coach Shukri Conrad have played down its significance, with Conrad insisting his team is focused on beating Australia through its cricket. He did, however, expect South African supporters to remind the visitors of the episode.
For all the history, though, the first Test is more about the present. South Africa are seeking to strengthen their position in the new World Test Championship cycle; Australia are beginning a demanding campaign that could define the latter stages of a celebrated generation.
At Kingsmead, the contest may ultimately be decided not by the noise surrounding the rivalry but by which side handles the changing conditions, absorbs the pressure and wins the long, often unglamorous battle of Test cricket.
Published in Dawn, October 9th, 2026
