World Test champions South Africa meet current championship leaders Australia in Durban on Friday at the start of the first Test series between the two countries in South Africa since the controversial ‘Sandpapergate’ tour of 2017/18.
Apart from the scandal of the Australians being caught using sandpaper to alter the condition of the ball, the 2017/18 series was the first won by South Africa on home soil against their arch-rivals in 48 years.
South Africa defeated Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in London last year but their batting line-up is relatively inexperienced, while their fast bowling stocks have been depleted by what coach Shukri Conrad described as a “pandemic” of hamstring injuries.
Star fast bowler Kagiso Rabada is a particular concern, having not bowled in an official match since May.
He took part in a two-day intra-squad match last weekend and reportedly came through without any problems. Batting coach Ashwell Prince said a final decision on Rabada would be delayed “as late as possible”.
The Rabada issue is complicated by the likelihood that South Africa will field two spin bowlers, Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, at a venue which has favoured spin in recent seasons.
This would leave room for only one specialist fast bowler to support left-armer Marco Jansen which would make the team vulnerable to any injury breakdown.
Australia have already ruled out batsmen Josh Inglis with a broken finger and Cameron Green with an abdominal injury.
Australia will also have to make a call on the balance of their attack if the conditions favour spin, although the quartet of captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and off-spinner Nathan Lyon remains intact from the 2017/18 series.
Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood were the beneficiaries of the sandpaper-augmented managing of the ball which enabled sharp reverse swing, particularly in the first Test in Durban, eight years ago, although none has been implicated in the actions that led to lengthy bans for then-captain Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft.
Both camps have been cautious about recalling the events of 2017/18.
“It was a long time ago and I don’t think there is much more to add,” Cummins said before the tour.
Conrad said it was not an issue that had been raised in South Africa’s team meetings. “We’re hell-bent on beating them with our skills,” said Conrad.
But the coach said he expected South African supporters to remind the Australians of the incident.
“I would like the fans to give them some stick – but respectfully so,” said Conrad.