Rabada fit for St George's Park return as South Africa seek Australia response
Kagiso Rabada is fit to face Australia again. South Africa's fast bowler has recovered from a hamstring tear in time for the second Test — the five-day format — at St George's Park. His return comes with South Africa 1-0 down after a 214-run defeat in Durban in the week before 18 October, according to The Guardian.
It will be his first match since May. That absence stretches back to the Indian Premier League season, and it left South Africa preparing for the first Test without him. Captain Temba Bavuma now has his lead attacker back. For a side chasing the series, that matters.
St George's Park is familiar territory for Rabada. It staged his flashpoint with Steve Smith in 2018. Rabada collided with Smith while celebrating dismissing him for a wicket, and match officials initially banned him for two Tests.
At the time his lawyer said the contact was not deliberate. The ban was then downgraded to a fine on appeal. Rabada stayed in the series.
He made that reprieve count. Smith was the first of 11 wickets for Rabada in that Test in Gqeberha. He finished the series as man of the series.
Ahead of this return, Rabada played down any lingering edge. There is "no hate off the field" towards Smith and Australia, he said. It was the emotion of the game and the heat of the moment.
There has been plenty of cricket since that week. Rabada has played against Australia 23 times across all formats since 2018. He has taken 58 wickets at an average of 21.39, or just over 21 runs conceded for each wicket. That is the second-best record by a fast bowler against Australia this century, behind Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa need more than memories. Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne will drop out for the second Test, with Marques Ackerman and Matthew Breetzke expected to come in. The final side was to be confirmed on Sunday 18 October, with rain forecast for the opening day. A wet start can slow the pitch and force captains to rethink the balance of the team.
The broader context is fresh. South Africa are reigning World Test Championship winners after beating Australia by five wickets in June 2025, according to Cricket South Africa. It was the country's first global title in 27 years.
For fans, this means a proper contest is back on. A fresh fast bowler. A home side under pressure. A ground with history. South Africa must win to level the series, and Rabada gives them a way back in.
