Australia won the toss and opted to bat first in the opening test against world champions South Africa at a cloudless Kingsmead in Durban on Friday.
The three-test series – with further matches in Gqeberha and Cape Town – represents a fascinating clash between the two teams that did battle at Lord’s only 17 months ago, with the Proteas emerging victorious to become World Test Champions for the first time.
Many will remember Australia’s last trip here in 2018, which was dubbed the “Sandpapergate series”. That story has been told – and retold – almost exhaustively in recent weeks, but it might be more productive to look forward and assess how the result of this series will influence the identity of the WTC finalists next year.
Since South Africa’s famous victory at the home of cricket, they have hardly played another test. In fact, today’s match is their first on home soil since January last year. The hosts have already named their team, and they will surely miss their most potent fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, who has not been risked after recovering from a hamstring strain. Instead, they welcome back the express pace of Anrich Nortje, who will play his first test in three and a half years.
The Proteas will be going into the match with the impressive spin pairing of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, an indication of how the character of the Kingsmead surface has changed from pace to spin-friendly in recent years.
Australia, on the other hand, retain their world-class pace trio of skipper Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, backed up by their peerless off-spinner Nathan Lyon. They will be encouraged by the fact that they have won their last three tests in Durban in 2006, 2009 and 2018.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Nicolas Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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