South Africa v Australia second Test: Rabada set to return in Gqeberha as Breetzke replaces Stubbs
Australia lead 1-0 after winning in Durban by 214 runs. The second Test at St George's Park starts on Sunday, 18 October at 4pm Malaysia time.
South Africa will look to level their Test series against Australia when the second Test starts at St George's Park in Gqeberha on Sunday, 18 October. Play is due to begin at 10am local time, which is 4pm in Malaysia, and the match runs until 22 October. Australia lead 1-0 after winning the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs, and the hosts have reshuffled their squad, with Kagiso Rabada expected back and Matthew Breetzke recalled. This follows on from the first-Test result in Durban.
Durban recap
Australia controlled the first Test after Matt Renshaw's 190 lifted them from a difficult position to 390 in the first innings. Josh Hazlewood's career-best 6-49 then helped complete a 214-run victory.
South Africa's changes
Tristan Stubbs, who made 32 and 1 in Durban, has been left out of the 17-man squad, with Breetzke the only change. The 27-year-old has played two Tests, but his limited-overs form, including an ODI century against Australia in Durban, earned him a recall. Coach Shukri Conrad cited Breetzke's attitude and character as factors in the decision.
Ryan Rickelton is set to take the wicketkeeping gloves, with Kyle Verreynne under pressure after 13 Test innings without a half-century. Opener Tony de Zorzi is out with a hamstring injury, so Breetzke or Marques Ackerman could open alongside Aiden Markram, or Rickelton could move up the order.
The biggest boost is Rabada. The fast bowler missed the first Test with a hamstring problem and is expected to be available, most likely at the expense of Anrich Nortje. South Africa have named seven fast bowlers to manage workloads, with Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer and Senuran Muthusamy as the spin options, though probably only one will play.
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (capt), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.
Australia's selection questions
Australia are expected to name an unchanged XI, but they have decisions to make. Wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is linking up with the squad again after recovering from a broken finger, while all-rounder Cameron Green, who missed Durban with an abdominal strain picked up in the third ODI, is having his fitness monitored. Renshaw's big score in the opener makes him hard to leave out if both return.
The series
The third and final Test is at Newlands in Cape Town from 27 to 31 October. A win in Gqeberha would give Australia the series with a match to spare, while South Africa need victory to keep it alive.
Key takeaways
- The second Test starts on Sunday, 18 October at St George's Park, Gqeberha, at 10am local time (4pm Malaysia time).
- Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after a 214-run win in Durban.
- Matthew Breetzke replaces Tristan Stubbs in the South Africa squad, and Kagiso Rabada is expected to return.
- Tony de Zorzi is ruled out with a hamstring injury; Ryan Rickelton is set to keep wicket.
- Australia must weigh the returns of Josh Inglis and Cameron Green against Matt Renshaw's form.
FAQ
When does the second Test between South Africa and Australia start in Malaysia time? Day one begins at 4pm Malaysia time on Sunday, 18 October (10am in Gqeberha).
What is the series score? Australia lead 1-0 after winning the first Test in Durban by 214 runs.
When is the third Test? At Newlands, Cape Town, from 27 to 31 October.
Sources: cricket.com.au, India TV, Yahoo Sports