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1st Test | Australia tour of South Africa 2026 | Kingsmead, Durban | 9 October 2026
Jansen and Nortje look the likeliest pair to open the bowling if Rabada fails to recover, with Coetzee and Paterson waiting behind them. Rabada bowled well in a two-day intra-squad match on 4 and 5 October, yet the management will hold its decision until the last possible moment because he is still short of full fitness. Play at Kingsmead begins on 9 October, so the final answer arrives very soon. Australia have already named a 16-man squad.
Rabada remains in contention after pushing through a two-day intra-squad game on 4 and 5 October, where he bowled well. The management has said the decision will come as late as possible, a sign that he is not yet fully fit. Reports also differ on when the injury happened, with mid-August and June both mentioned, so the exact timeline of his recovery remains murky.
That uncertainty shapes everything else. Building a side around a half-fit seamer risks a lopsided attack if he struggles early, while leaving him out removes the premier new-ball option. A preliminary 18-man list released on 28 September kept him in, and no final squad has been confirmed, which keeps every option alive until the last moment.
No team has been announced, and the new-ball pairing is an open question. The pace options listed are Bosch, Coetzee, Jansen, Nortje, Paterson and Rabada, three of whom have a real claim to the first over. Jansen’s left-arm angle is the one constant in nearly every scenario.
If Rabada plays, Jansen probably partners him, and Nortje comes on first change. If he misses out, Nortje’s pace and Jansen’s bounce form the strongest opening duo on paper, with Coetzee or Paterson handling longer spells. Spin cover comes from Harmer, Maharaj and Muthusamy, although the seam group will carry most of the load and the opening spell will matter.
Jansen owns 89 Test wickets at 21.12, striking every 38.3 balls, as of February 2026. Those figures beat every other seamer in the group by a clear margin, and they explain why his name appears in every plan. Pairing that record with a fresh partner is the simplest route to early pressure.
Nortje has taken 70 wickets at 26.71 with a strike rate of 43.67, a sharp return for a bowler of his pace. Paterson has 25 wickets at 26.24, taking one every 52.8 balls, which suggests control rather than punch. Coetzee has 14 wickets at 23.57, a small sample that looks healthy but remains unproven.
Australia last fielded a Test side at Mackay against Bangladesh in August, and that group offers the best guide to their thinking. Connolly has one Test cap and is competing with Labuschagne for the number three slot. The batting order below shows how the top seven looked on that occasion.
Kuhnemann sits behind Lyon as the second spinner, while Neser is the pace back-up after missing the Bangladesh match with a calf injury. None of the three featured in the last XI. The 16-man squad is settled, but the side for Durban has not been named, so the table reflects the last known combination only.
| Position | Player | Role |
| 1 | Matthew Renshaw | Opener |
| 2 | Travis Head | Batter |
| 3 | Marnus Labuschagne | Batter (Connolly contender) |
| 4 | Steve Smith | Batter |
| 5 | Cameron Green | All-rounder |
| 6 | Alex Carey | Wicketkeeper |
| 7 | Beau Webster | All-rounder |
| 8 | Pat Cummins (c) | Pace |
| 9 | Mitchell Starc | Pace |
| 10 | Nathan Lyon | Spin |
| 11 | Josh Hazlewood | Pace |
Australia have won 10 Tests in South Africa against 3 for the hosts, with 2 drawn. South Africa’s wins came in 1966/67, 1969/70 and 2017/18. At Kingsmead, the last two Tests, played between 2022 and 2024, produced first-innings and second-innings averages of 279.0 and 170.0.
Across all Tests at the ground, those averages rise to 295 and 255, which points to a surface that gets harder to bat on as the match goes on. With the start fixed for 09:30 local time, the South Africa vs Australia 1st Test playing XI will only settle once the toss and Rabada’s fitness are both known.
Should the hosts gamble on Rabada’s fitness or trust Jansen and Nortje to share the new ball? Share your pick in the comments.
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Is Rabada fit for the first Test against Australia?
His place is undecided, and the team will hold the call until the last possible moment. He bowled well in a two-day intra-squad match on 4 and 5 October but is still not fully fit.
Who could take the new ball for South Africa in the first Test?
Jansen and Nortje look the strongest pairing if Rabada misses out. Jansen has 89 Test wickets at 21.12, while Nortje has taken 70 at 26.71.
What time does the first Test between South Africa and Australia start?
Play begins at 09:30 local time on 9 October at Kingsmead. That is 13:30 in Bangladesh, so fans there can follow the opening session in the afternoon.
Who is in Australia’s squad for the first Test in Durban?
Australia named 16 players, with Pat Cummins leading the group. Starc, Hazlewood and Lyon form the senior bowling core, while Head, Smith, Labuschagne and Green anchor the batting.
What is Australia’s Test record in South Africa?
Australia have won 10 Tests there against 3 for South Africa. Two other matches finished as draws, in 1993/94 and 2011/12, which shows how rarely the hosts have held the upper hand.
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