South Africa vs Australia 1st Test Verdict
The must awaited series gets underway on Friday with South Africa backed to edge Australia as they sides meet in the 1st Test.
Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma is a man for the big occasion and averages 41.78 after 17 knocks against Australia.
- South Africa’s Temba Bavuma has scored 91, 30 & 103 in his last 4 knocks.
- South Africa’s Ryan Rickelton has scores of 54*, 49, 127, 27 & 71* in his last 5 innings.
- South Africa’s Marco Jansen took 3/39 & 4/61 in his last red ball match.
- Australia’s Mitchell Starc has scored 42, 60 *& 111 in his last 3 innings.
- Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne has scores of 36, 84, 24 & 22 in his last 4 innings.
- Australia’s Mitchell Starc took 6/12 & 4/39 in his last Test against Bangladesh.
Head-to-Head
South Africa have won two and lost two of their last five Tests against Australia, with the other match ending in a draw.
South Africa Form
South Africa enter the opening Test with strong momentum after dominating the ODI series and building on strong recent home Test success.
Temba Bavuma leads a balanced side combining experience, depth and an imposing bowling attack.
Bavuma anchors the batting with Aiden Markram, David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne providing plenty of support.
Stubbs was South Africa’s leading scorer in their last Test series against India, making 163 runs across four innings. Tony de Zorzi’s injury will force a reshuffle at the top of the order.
The bowling remains the Proteas' major strength. Kagiso Rabada is fit again although not yet cleared by their medical team.
If he plays he will head a pace unit that can call on Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee and Dane Paterson, while Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer provide the spin options.
Australia Form
Australia arrive at Kingsmead looking to recover from their ODI series defeat as they look to reassert themselves in the Test format.
Pat Cummins captains an experienced side whose greatest strength remains a world-class bowling attack.
Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne form the backbone of the batting, while Travis Head adds aggression and Matthew Renshaw is expected to feature at the top. Alex Carey remains an important wicketkeeper-batter, with Josh Inglis also available.
Cameron Green’s absence through an abdominal injury is a significant blow after he scored 184 runs in the recent series against Bangladesh.
Cummins leads a formidable pace group that includes Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.
Starc took 12 wickets against Bangladesh, while Hazlewood claimed eight. Nathan Lyon is their main spin threat and has decades of Test experience.
Team News
The Proteas are sweating on Kagiso Rabada’s availability and a late call will be made on his fitness. Anrich Nortje is likely to start after some time out of the Test side, but Tony de Zorzi is out through injury. Cameron Green’s injury during the 3rd ODI will keep him out of the Aussie side.
South Africa (possible XI): Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Marques Ackermann, Temba Bavuma (c), David Bedingham, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.
Australia (possible XI): Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Alex Carey, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.