The South Africa vs Australia Test Series is one of the marquee bilateral cricket events of the year. The SA vs AUS contests are both exciting and spicy in nature.
The upcoming series is much-awaited, as it is Australia’s first Test series in South Africa since the infamous 2018 Sandpaper Gate scandal series. Of the embarrassed trio that was handed a ban eight years ago, only Steve Smith now remains part of the Aussie Test setup.
The three-match South Africa vs Australia Test series will kick off on October 9 in Durban, with Tests to be followed in Gqeberha and Cape Town.
There is a spate of star power across both sides that will take center stage in the coming weeks. However, both teams are dealing with injuries and unavailability of some of their key players.
SA vs AUS: List Of Players Who Are Injured Ahead Of South Africa vs Australia Test Series
Cameron Green
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green is doubtful for the first Test in Durban due to an abdominal injury that he sustained when being hit by a delivery from Corbin Bosch in the last match of the SA vs AUS ODI series. Green could still feature as a batsman, but a call on his participation will be taken closer to the match.
Josh Inglis
Wicket-keeper batsman Josh Inglis has been ruled out of the 1st Test with a fractured finger.
Australia have added batsman Nic Maddinson and keeper-batter Sam Harper to the Test squad as a cover for Green and Inglis.
Tony de Zorzi
South Africa, meanwhile, have a longer list of injured cricketers. Left-handed batsman Tony de Zorzi has been officially ruled out of the 1st Test match with a hamstring strain. Zorzi picked up a hamstring injury while fielding in the 3rd ODI against the Aussies.
CSA has not named Zorzi’s replacement yet, as the board had previously announced an extended 18-man preliminary squad.
Kagiso Rabada
South Africa has monitoring the fitness of their premier fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, regularly and are hoping that he gains fitness for the South Africa vs Australia 1st Test, beginning on October 9.
Rabada has been out of action since the end of May, when he last featured in the IPL. He is recovering from a hamstring injury that he suffered while training.
“We will give it [decision Rabada] as much time as humanly possible, but we also don’t want to take a call based on desperation,” South Africa’s head coach Shukri Conrad said.
Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, and Kwena Maphaka
Three other fast bowlers, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman, and Kwena Maphaka, have been ruled out of the entire SA vs AUS Test series owing to hamstring injuries. They are expected to feature later in the home summer, which includes incoming tours by Bangladesh and England.
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