Rabada Returns as South Africa Chase Series Level — SkimNews
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- South Africa lost the first Test by 214 runs in Durban, a defeat that coach Shukri Conrad blamed on over-reliance on captain Temba Bavuma, opener Aiden Markram and the lower order.
- Kagiso Rabada returns for his first match since the Indian Premier League in May, forcing South Africa to drop one spinner and placing considerable expectation on the pace attack.
- Matthew Breetzke is set for a renewed chance to open with Markram, with Ryan Rickelton primed to take the wicketkeeper gloves from Kyle Verreynne and move down the order, while Tristan Stubbs has been omitted.
- Marques Ackerman could make his Test debut after Stubbs' omission, with a possible South Africa XI of Markram, Breetzke, Bedingham, Bavuma, Ackerman, Rickelton, Mulder, Jansen, Maharaj, Rabada and Coetzee.
- Australia are likely to resist changes after their emphatic first-Test win, though Scott Boland may be considered to manage the workloads of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, all of whom bowled at least 29 overs in Durban.
- Josh Hazlewood said reverse swing will be decisive on the abrasive South African wickets, having returned career-best figures of 6-49 in the fourth innings at Kingsmead to seal the win.
- Persistent rain and damp conditions are forecast for Gqeberha, particularly over the opening two days, raising the prospect of delays at St George's Park.
Why it matters: South Africa's World Test Championship credentials — won at Lord's last year amid debate over their qualifying schedule — now hinge on whether the recalled Rabada and a rejigged top order can repair a batting lineup Australia exposed in Durban. For Australia, balancing Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc's workloads across a three-Test series on abrasive, rain-threatened pitches will test squad depth before they consider unleashing Boland.
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