South Africa look to re-establish Test credentials after Australia mauling — SkimNews
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- South Africa lost the first Test by 214 runs in Durban, with coach Shukri Conrad admitting they had been "heavily reliant" on captain Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram and the lower order — a fragility Australia exposed at Kingsmead.
- Kagiso Rabada returns for his first Test since the IPL in May, forcing South Africa to drop a spinner, with Matthew Breetzke set to open, Ryan Rickelton taking the gloves (shifting Kyle Verreynne down the order) and Tristan Stubbs omitted — potentially clearing a debut for Marques Ackerman.
- Josh Hazlewood, 35, returned career-best figures of 6-49 in Durban after missing last season's Ashes through injury, and told reporters that reverse swing — made possible by abrasive South African pitches — could be decisive across the three-Test series.
- Australia are weighing Scott Boland as an extra seamer to manage workloads for Pat Cummins, Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, all of whom bowled at least 29 overs in the first Test, though an unchanged XI remains possible after their emphatic win.
- Persistent rain is forecast for Gqeberha, particularly over the opening two days at St George's Park, raising the prospect of a shortened contest before the first ball at 9am on Sunday.
- Questions persist over South Africa's World Test Championship credentials — they played fewer Tests than England and India in the qualifying period and faced what was widely regarded as an easier schedule before winning last year's final at Lord's.
Why it matters: A home defeat would deepen scrutiny over South Africa's World Test Championship credentials — already criticized for an easier qualifying path than England or India — and puts the spotlight on Rabada's first outing since the IPL in May. Australia must decide whether to rest a pace trio (Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc) that all bowled 29-plus overs at Kingsmead.
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