WTC champions South Africa will face current World Test Championship points table leaders Australia in Durban on Friday, with the first Test marking the return of the rivalry to South Africa for the first time since the controversial ‘Sandpapergate’ tour of 2017/18.The 2017/18 series was marked by the Australians being caught using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball. It was also the first time South Africa had beaten Australia in a Test series at home in 48 years.South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in London last year, but will enter the series with a slightly inexperienced batting line-up and a depleted fast-bowling attack. Coach Shukri Conrad has described the hamstring injuries affecting his fast bowlers as a “pandemic”.Star fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will miss the first Test at Kingsmead as he continues his recovery from a hamstring injury. South Africa captain Temba Bavuma said Rabada, who took nine wickets when South Africa beat Australia in last year’s WTC final at Lord’s, would be given more time to recover.Anrich Nortje, however, will return for his first Test since 2023. Bavuma welcomed the return of the 32-year-old, calling him an “X-Factor” player.“There are not many guys around bowling at 150kmh plus,” Bavuma said at his pre-match press conference.Nortje has had a history of injuries, including back stress fractures, but has been working on his fitness. He played in the European T20 Premier League in the Netherlands and Ireland last month and impressed Bavuma with the pace he produced during South Africa’s week-long preparation for the Test.South Africa have selected two specialist spinners in left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj and off-spinner Simon Harmer. Nortje and Marco Jansen will lead the pace attack, with seam-bowling all-rounder Wiaan Mulder providing support.While Bavuma announced South Africa’s playing XI, Australia captain Pat Cummins said the visitors would wait until Friday morning before deciding on their team.Cummins said he was “super-excited” about the series between what he called the “number one and two teams in the world”.The series begins a busy 12-month period for Australia, who will also tour India and England for Test series.Cummins said Australia had been good at handling the “big moments” but added that “we need to get better at the grind”.He did not reveal the likely make-up of Australia’s bowling attack or whether left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann would play alongside off-spinner Nathan Lyon.“They definitely could both play,” said Cummins. “Kuhnny brings something a little bit different, spinning the ball away from the right-handers. If we need both spinners he’s done it well for us in the past.”South Africa Team: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wicketkeeper), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, Anrich Nortje
