Proteas captain Temba Bavuma has confirmed that Kagiso Rabada is available for selection for the second Test against Australia at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, but South Africa will wait until match day before finalising their starting XI.
The return of Rabada provides a significant boost to the World Test Champions, who trail 1-0 in the three-match series following their 214-run defeat in Durban.
However, uncertainty surrounding the weather and the conditions expected at St George’s Park has left the Proteas with several selection decisions, including whether to retain two specialist spinners or strengthen their batting and seam-bowling options.
“We don’t have a final 11. I think with all the talk with the weather, we’re not exactly too sure. We have a clear understanding of what we want.
“We just want, I guess, nature to do its thing. But we don’t have a final 11 as of today.”
Rabada cleared to return
Rabada missed the opening Test at Kingsmead as a precaution while recovering from a hamstring injury.
His absence was felt as Australia recovered from 124/6 to post 390 in their first innings, with Matt Renshaw scoring a match-defining 190.
Bavuma confirmed that Rabada has now been cleared by the medical team.
“He’s been released by the fitness team.
“He’s available for selection. So yeah, he’ll obviously be a big addition and boost to the team on the field. And I think, like I said last week, he’s ready to go.”
Beyond his bowling ability, Bavuma believes Rabada’s presence brings an additional level of confidence to South Africa’s attack.
“The bowlers, they feed massively off him.
“He leads the attack in everything that he does. I think it brings an extra level of confidence to the unit. Whether he’s on the field, whether he’s off the field, there’s always benefit.”
Rabada’s performances against Australia, including his nine wickets in the World Test Championship final, have demonstrated his ability to influence major contests.
Bavuma believes that experience and reputation are important, but does not want the responsibility of turning the series around to fall entirely on the fast bowler.
“I mean, you mentioned the aura. There’s a lot of belief in KG. A lot of the guys rub off that.
“He’ll obviously feed off the performances that he’s had against Australia.
“I think for us, it’s also not to put any more expectation that we have on any other player. KG will do what he does and all the other guys as well should look to do what they need to do for the team.”
Nortje also available as Proteas consider their attack
Rabada’s return is not the only positive news for South Africa’s bowling department.
Bavuma confirmed that Anrich Nortje has recovered well from his return to Test cricket in Durban and is also available for selection.
“Anrich looks good. I think he was obviously one of the guys where we wanted to see how he would pull up, if I could call it that, after the first Test. There have been no issues there.
“He’s built up his preparation going into this game. He’s available for selection.”
Nortje’s physical condition was an important consideration after his extended absence from the longer format.
Bavuma said the fast bowler is also mentally prepared for another opportunity.
“From a physical point of view, he’s all good. I think mentally, he’s also one of the guys who are raring to go.
“We’re looking to make a big play for the team.”
With Rabada and Nortje both available, South Africa have additional options as they consider the balance of their bowling attack.
Will South Africa play two spinners again?
One of the biggest selection questions surrounds the spin department.
South Africa selected Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer in Durban, but the conditions did not offer the assistance to spin that the Proteas had anticipated.
Bavuma acknowledged that the combination contributed to the difficulties South Africa experienced during the opening Test.
“From a bowling point of view, I think probably our combinations that probably got the better of us.
“With two spinners, only three seamers, you would have wanted the wicket to deteriorate a lot quicker and bring the threat of the slow bowling or the spin into play.”
The captain believes the bowling effort itself was not necessarily the biggest problem, but the balance of the attack limited South Africa’s options as the match progressed.
“I don’t think you can really fault the bowling effort too much after that. Second innings was always going to be tough.
“We were under the pump.”
For the second Test, the weather forecast could have a significant influence on the final combination.
Bavuma explained that the decision on whether to retain two spinners could also affect the batting depth and all-round options.
“We’d like to see what happens tomorrow. I think probably whether we go the two spinners, I think that’s something that we consider.
“I think that will affect quite a bit whether it’s an extra batter, whether it’s the extra all-rounder.”
Senuran Muthusamy is also part of the selection conversation, with Bavuma confirming that the Proteas are considering all their options.
“We’re looking at it from all angles.”
He believes the conditions will ultimately determine which combination provides South Africa with the strongest chance of winning.
“I think, to be honest with you, it all depends on how things look like in the morning.
“I guess we have the luxury of going either way. We trust that whichever way we go, we’ll be able to field a very, very competitive 11.”
Breetzke and Ackerman bring character to the batting options
South Africa have also made changes to their batting squad, with Matthew Breetzke replacing Tristan Stubbs.
Bavuma believes Breetzke and fellow squad member Marques Ackerman offer qualities that could be valuable against Australia’s experienced bowling attack.
Asked what the two batters could bring to the side, the captain highlighted their character and willingness to compete.
“Definitely character. I think people who know Ackerman, he’s a guy that likes to get in the fight. He fights fire with fire.
“I think from that point of view, it’ll be exciting to see if he gets going.”
Breetzke, meanwhile, comes into the squad following an impressive start to his ODI career.
Bavuma believes his recent performances against Australia in the shorter format could give him confidence if selected.
“A guy like Matthew Breetzke as well, I think he comes in with a lot of confidence.
“How he started his ODI international career, the success that he’s had against Australia in that ODI setup.
“I think he’ll be coming in with that confidence and definitely be boosting the batting unit.”
Bavuma also addressed the possibility of Ackerman being used higher up the batting order, despite the batter not having established himself as a first-class opener.
“Growing up, he has been batting in the top three. I think years of late, he has been in three, four.”
The captain believes Ackerman has the temperament to embrace the challenge if given an opportunity.
“I think more mentally, if that opportunity is there, you’d be happy to give him that opportunity.
“Yes, it will be an ask against the type of bowling attack, but I think he’s a guy that he’ll be thinking more half-full rather than half-empty type of thing.”
Rickelton’s batting position remains undecided
Ryan Rickelton will take over the wicketkeeping duties for the second Test, but the Proteas have not yet decided whether he will continue opening the batting or move into the middle order.
Bavuma explained that the decision forms part of the broader discussions around the team’s balance.
“Ricky comes in, he takes the gloves.
“Does he continue at the top? Does he come into the middle? Not that from a batting point of view it gets easier batting in the middle, so it’s all those type of considerations.”
Despite Rickelton’s struggles for runs, Bavuma insisted that the team retains confidence in his ability.
“There has to be a strategy behind whatever it is that we are doing, which I believe there is a strategy behind it, and that strategy is backed by confidence in that individual.
“So it’s not a case of we’re kind of throwing Rickelton out there and see what he does. We’re confident in his ability. He’s done it before.”
Bavuma believes Rickelton has the experience and support required to work through a difficult period.
“He’s going through a phase, whatever you want to call it, we’ve all been through that phase, where you just want to try and get on the other side of it.
“So yeah, we’re very hopeful. He’s got 14 players that are behind him, and yeah, we believe that opportunity there, him and anyone in the team will grab it.”
Proteas batters challenged to be more ruthless
South Africa’s batting performance in Durban remains one of the major areas requiring improvement.
Several batters made starts during the opening Test, but Australia were able to maintain pressure and prevent the Proteas from building the substantial innings needed to compete.
Bavuma said the discussions within the batting group have focused on extending those periods of success and taking advantage of opportunities to make meaningful contributions.
“David Bedingham, when he had a chance to address the media, he spoke about how we’d like to extend a lot more of our efforts.
“I think us being a lot more ruthless in how we execute, and more importantly, when the opportunity is there to go and do something big for the team.”
The captain believes there were encouraging moments in Durban, particularly Aiden Markram’s contribution, but South Africa must sustain those performances for longer.
“We take the little good moments that we had in our batting. We feed off the confidence of Aiden Markram, the way he went about his business.
“But yeah, it’s more about just extending our batting innings.”
Bavuma was particularly critical of South Africa’s first-innings performance, which allowed Australia to establish a substantial advantage.
“From a batting point of view, second innings I felt we were a lot better.
“But I think obviously first innings is where we fell short to concede a lead like that on a wicket like that. It was rather criminal.”
He believes Renshaw’s innings ultimately highlighted the difference between the teams.
“I think the first innings, Matt Renshaw, that was the difference.
“He went and scored 190, the next best scorer in the first innings was just over 50.
“I think his innings there was the difference at the end.”
For Bavuma, the message is that both the batting and bowling departments need to improve.
“There have been conversations in both departments, batting and bowling. The simple of it is that we just need to get better there.”
Bavuma determined to stick to his batting method
The captain also acknowledged his own responsibility to contribute with the bat.
However, he does not believe the solution is to make significant changes to an approach that has served him well in recent years.
“I still have that responsibility, right, with the bat.
“I think for me it’s to keep doing what I have been doing, to be honest with you.”
Bavuma believes there can be a temptation to change methods following a disappointing performance, but he intends to remain committed to his strengths.
“I think there can be a tendency, I guess, to change your method.
“My method has been rather successful over the last couple of years, so I want to stick to that.”
While he has spent additional time working on his skills in the nets, Bavuma said supporters should not expect a completely different approach.
“I’m not going to go out and be slashing at my first ball, you know, type of thing.
“I’ll apply myself as I normally do. Just try to be as good as I can be, really.”
Bavuma hopes Gqeberha crowd can inspire Proteas
South Africa will be looking to level the series at a venue Bavuma enjoys playing at.
The captain highlighted the atmosphere created by supporters at St George’s Park, particularly the traditional band that has become part of the ground’s identity.
“Playing in PE, it’s one of the ones we look forward to.
“There’s a bit of a different atmosphere, if I could say that, with the band and everything.”
With the Test beginning on a Sunday, Bavuma hopes the local cricket community will come out in support, although the weather forecast remains a concern.
“I guess where we stay close to the mall, there’s a lot more excitement from people.
“So hopefully that excitement translates to bums on the seats. It’s a weekend.
“It’s a Sunday, the day one. I guess, I don’t know with the weather, whether that’s going to encourage the people’s enthusiasm.
“But generally, PE is decently attended.”
Proteas face crucial selection decisions
With Rabada fit again, Nortje available and several batting and bowling combinations under consideration, South Africa have plenty of options ahead of the second Test.
The challenge for Bavuma and the coaching staff is selecting the combination best suited to the conditions while addressing the shortcomings exposed in Durban.
The captain believes the Proteas are mentally prepared to respond, drawing a comparison with the intensity of South Africa’s sporting rivalry with New Zealand in rugby.
“I think playing against Australia, if I think about it from a rugby point of view, like South Africa playing New Zealand, I guess that first game is always the one you need to get over until the guys get mentally where they need to be.
“I’m not suggesting mentally we weren’t there in that first Test, but it kind of feels like that from a sport fanatic point of view.
“I think mentally, we’ll be as attuned as we need to be. I guess that, we believe, should translate into a much better performance.”
South Africa will have to wait until the toss to confirm their final combination, with the weather and pitch conditions expected to influence the decision.
“I’d love to give you guys a starting 11, I normally do.
“But I promise that come the toss, we’ll have the team.”
The second Test between South Africa and Australia begins at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday, 18 October, at 10:00.
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