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South Africa have announced a preliminary 18-player squad for the first Test of their upcoming series against Australia. The match will be played at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban from October 9 to 13.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada has been included in the squad as he continues his recovery from a right hamstring injury. Also, Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje and Dane Paterson have returned to the Test setup.
Also Read: Watch: Quinton de Kock drops F-bomb in fight with Temba Bavuma during SA vs AUS ODI
Kagiso Rabada aiming to be fit for Australia Tests, Anrich Nortje returns
Rabada has been sidelined since sustaining a right hamstring injury during training in mid-August. The injury forced him to miss South Africa's ongoing ODI series against Australia, but his inclusion in the Test squad gives him a chance to return to international cricket.
Rabada will take part in a two-day intra-squad match as South Africa assess his match readiness. The team management will then conduct scenario-based training sessions before reducing the preliminary 18-player group to a final 15.
The intra-squad match will therefore be important for Rabada as he looks to prove that he is ready for the first Test in Durban. His availability would give South Africa another experienced pace option against Australia.
Meanwhile, Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi have not been considered for selection as they continue their respective recoveries from hamstring injuries.
Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje and Dane Paterson, however, return to the Test setup as South Africa prepare for a three-match series.
Who is Marques Ackerman?
Marques Ackerman is the only uncapped player in South Africa's preliminary squad. The Dolphins batter earned his maiden Test call-up following an impressive run of form for South Africa A.
Ackerman has extensive first-class experience, having played 85 matches and scored 5,986 runs in 134 innings. He has an average of 48.66 and a highest score of 256, while his record includes 16 centuries and 31 fifties.
The right-hander has also featured regularly in List A and T20 cricket. He has 1,826 runs from 74 List A matches at an average of 27.25, while he has scored 1,589 runs in 80 T20 matches at a strike rate of 129.18.
Ackerman's inclusion comes at the expense of Dewald Brevis, who was part of South Africa's previous Test series in India but has not been included in the preliminary squad for the Australia series.
South Africa vs Australia Test series schedule
The first Test between South Africa and Australia will be played at the Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban from October 9 to 13.
The second Test is scheduled at St George's Park in Gqeberha from October 18 to 22, followed by the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town from October 27 to 31.
Before the final Test squad is confirmed, South Africa will use the intra-squad match and scenario-based training to assess players, including Rabada, ahead of the series.
South Africa Test squad for 1st match against Australia
Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne.
