Rabada set to return as South Africa regroup for Gqeberha Test

Kagiso Rabada is expected to be back in South Africa’s attack when the second Test against Australia begins at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on Sunday, as the hosts try to recover from a 214-run defeat in Durban.

Rabada has not played since the IPL in May. He missed the first Test while recovering from a hamstring injury picked up in training, a decision captain Temba Bavuma described as caution rather than necessity.

His non-selection was more from a precautionary point of view to give him the extra couple of days.

Bavuma said Rabada “looks good” and has been bowling in the nets. Who makes way is less clear. One option is to leave out Simon Harmer; the other is to drop Anrich Nortje, despite his successful return to Test cricket at Kingsmead. The squad is due to be named on Thursday.

Coach Shukri Conrad refused to panic over the Durban result, in which Matt Renshaw’s 190 and 82 and Josh Hazlewood’s 6 for 49 gave Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

This was neither a calamity nor a catastrophe. We just need to get bloody better.

Conrad said the side should improve “without being knee-jerk in our decision-making and panicky”, and was blunt about the batting after South Africa fell 106 behind on first innings. “On a good wicket like that, you shouldn’t be going behind,” he said. Of Rabada, he added: “Hopefully our Rolls-Royce will be purring down the highway there.”

Bavuma indicated there would not be wholesale change. “The guys that you saw who took the field are guys that we have full confidence in,” he said.

Australia captain Pat Cummins has not ruled out changes of his own, saying conditions in Gqeberha would shape his selection. Cameron Green, who missed the first Test with an abdominal problem, is expected to return. The third Test is at Newlands in Cape Town from 27 October.