Proteas turn focus to Australia Test challenge

South Africa’s 2-1 ODI series victory over Australia is in the books. Now the coloured clothing makes way for whites and a three-Test battle carrying World Test Championship consequences.

The Proteas leave the ODI series with plenty to like, despite Australia taking the rain-affected finale in Potchefstroom by 45 runs on the DLS method. South Africa had already secured the series after wins in Durban and Johannesburg.

But attention now shifts quickly to the longest format.

South Africa and Australia meet again at Kingsmead from 9 October for the first of three Tests, before the series moves to St George’s Park in Gqeberha and then Newlands in Cape Town. The series forms part of the 2025-27 World Test Championship cycle.

READ: Five takeaways from Proteas’ Australia series

For South Africa, the transition begins immediately.

The Proteas squad gathers in Durban on 1 October for training, a two-day intra-squad match and scenario-based preparation before coach Shukri Conrad trims his preliminary 18-man group to 15.

There are several selection questions to resolve.

Kagiso Rabada has been included despite recovering from a right hamstring injury and will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness. Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka and Ottneil Baartman remain unavailable while continuing their rehabilitation.

Anrich Nortje, Gerald Coetzee and Dane Paterson have returned to strengthen the fast-bowling options, while Marques Ackerman is the only uncapped player in the preliminary squad. Ackerman has scored more than 1,000 runs in his past 10 red-ball appearances for South Africa A at an average of 82.92.

Australia also move into the Test leg with some uncertainty.

Cameron Green and Matthew Renshaw suffered injury scares during the final ODI, while Josh Inglis returned to Australia after fracturing his right index finger earlier in the series.

Pat Cummins will resume the captaincy in the Test format, with Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon among the established names in Australia’s 16-player squad.

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For several Proteas who featured in the ODI series, there will barely be time to reset.

Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch and Coetzee are all part of the preliminary Test group.

The white-ball series gave South Africa the early bragging rights.

From 9 October, though, the scoreboard resets and a very different examination begins.

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Photo: Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

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