Rabada set for late fitness call ahead of Australia Test

The paceman has not played since May

South Africa are likely to give pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada until the last moment to prove his fitness for Friday’s opening Test against Australia.

Rabada has not played competitively since featuring for Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League in May and has been recovering from a hamstring injury suffered in training in August.

The 31-year-old was back bowling in the nets on Wednesday ahead of the first Test in Durban, but teammate Simon Harmer said a decision on his availability could come close to the start of the match.

“Everybody wants him to play. The spectators, us in the change room, the Australians,” Harmer said.

“There’ll be a decision made, I’m sure, as close to the game as possible. He’s proved season in, season out that he’s a world-class player and he’s only going to make our team better.”

Rabada was part of the South Africa side that beat Australia in last year’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s, and his absence would be a major blow as the teams meet again.

If he is rested, Anrich Nortje could make his first Test appearance in more than three years. South Africa also have Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Gerald Coetzee among their pace options in the 18-man squad.

Harmer said South Africa would not risk Rabada’s long-term fitness for the opening match of a busy home season.

“I really hope that he does get in for the first Test, but there’s a lot of cricket this summer and I don’t think we want to risk a short-term game for long-term damage,” he said.

South Africa face Bangladesh in November and England in December after the Australia series as they begin their defence of the World Test Championship title.

South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

First Test: October 9-13, Durban Second Test: October 18-22, Gqeberha Third Test: October 27-31, Cape Town