South Africa are close to receiving a major boost for the SA vs AUS 2nd Test as their spearhead fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, is likely to feature in Gqeberha, where the Proteas must avoid a defeat to keep the three-match Test series alive.
Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced a 17-man squad for the 2nd Test, which includes one major change: batsman Tristan Stubbs has been dropped and replaced by Matthew Breetzke.
Head coach Shukri Conrad has also confirmed that Ryan Rickelton will take the gloves from Kyle Verreynne, and with Rabada’s return all but certain, the hosts may be ringing in three changes to the playing XI that lost the first Test in Durban.
Hosting Australia for a Test series for the first time since the famous 2018 rubber, South Africa have gone 1-0 down after losing the 1st Test by a huge margin of 214 runs. In Durban, South Africa had the upper hand on day 1, but their grip gradually slipped away with Matt Renshaw’s 190 before the Aussie bowlers pounced on the home batters. There was no coming back for the Proteas once they conceded a first-innings lead of more than 100 runs.
Temba Bavuma’s team will be looking to bounce back in the series at the St George’s Park, Gqeberha, in the South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test, which begins on Sunday, October 18.
Why is Tristan Stubbs dropped?
Stubbs, who made 32 and 1 in Durban, has been dropped from the squad for the 2nd Test against Australia after his prolonged underwhelming form: in his last 7 Tests, Stubbs averages a mediocre 24 with only two half-centuries to show.
He has been replaced by Matthew Breetzke. While Breetzke has played only two Tests, the last of which came in mid-2025, he’s been in a rich vein of form in white-ball cricket. Most recently, he notched up a century in an ODI against Australia last month.
Coach Conrad is impressed by Breetzke’s character and hopes that he will translate his limited-overs form to Test cricket.
“Matt has been part of the squad before. The fact that his ODI form is as hot as it is gave him an inside lane and more importantly, it’s the attitude and the character Matt brings and has,” the South Africa coach said.
Further, Conrad confirmed that Rickelton will do the wicket-keeping duty in the 2nd Test against Australia, which means Kyle Verreynne’s position is under threat. This, however, would likely mean that Rickelton would be moved to the middle order.
The 30-year-old uncapped Marques Ackerman, who has an experience of 85 FC matches, seems to be in contention to make his Test debut. Four of Ackerman’s last five scores are 256, 54, 107, and 60.
“With Ricks taking the gloves, there are decisions to be made over whether he does move down the order or whether he can continue to open the batting, which he has done before,” Conrad added.
Will Kagiso Rabada play in South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test?
Rabada is very likely to play in the 2nd Test against Australia. Bavuma had said that Rabada getting rest from the 1st Test was “precautionary” and that “KG is very good” in relation to his recovery from a hamstring injury that has forced him to miss all action since the conclusion of the IPL on May 31.
Given the Gqeberha Test is forecasted to be impacted by rain, Rabada is likely to replace off-spinner Simon Harmer, who endured a tough game in Durban. South Africa also have Gerald Coetzee, Dane Paterson, and Corbin Bosch at their disposal in the 17-man squad.
The three changes expected in South Africa’s lineup are: Breetzke, Rabada, and Ackerman to replace Stubbs, Harmer, and Verreynne.
SA vs AUS: South Africa Playing XI For 2nd Test – Predicted
- Aiden Markram
- Marques Ackerman
- Matthew Breetzke
- David Bedingham
- Temba Bavuma (c)
- Wiaan Mulder
- Ryan Rickelton (wk)
- Marco Jansen
- Kagiso Rabada
- Keshav Maharaj
- Anrich Nortje
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