482 days since South Africa lifted the ICC World Test Championship, the two finalists meet for a three-Test series.

While the focus in on the WTC Final rematch, it is hard to forget that this is Australia’s first Test series on South African soil since that 2018 series. You know the one: sandpaper, reverse swing, tears, bans, and an AB de Villiers ton in his final series. If you need a refresher, watch Inside Edge’s “How a cameraman caught cricket’s greatest scandal.“

A lot has happened since Lord’s. Wiaan Mulder scored 367* and then declared out of respect for Lara, Simon Harmer inspired a 2-0 series win in India, Australia crushed England 4-1, then took a 9-wicket hiding from Bangladesh in Darwin. And just a few days ago, Temba Bavuma hit a hundred in the Pink ODI.

Welcome to the short preview of Australia vs South Africa.

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Talking Points & Stats

• Australia’s opening partnership over the last two years has been abysmal: eight different opening combinations, none lasting more than 10 innings, and not a single century stand. Weatherald, Konstas, and McSweeney have all been tried and discarded. Travis Head has opened since the Ashes, but the Bangladesh series were a cause for concern: 22, 17, 22 and more worryingly, bowled every time.
• In the last 3 years, only six players have batted at No.3 in 20+ innings, and Marnus Labuschagne has the lowest average by a distance: Kane Williamson (50.37 in 30 innings), Mominul Haque (40.79 in 26), Shubman Gill (38.62 in 26), Shan Masood (38.60 in 24), Ollie Pope (36.02 in 38), and Marnus Labuschagne (27.56 in 36). It is almost a miracle that Marnus has still been picked. Unless he repays the trust with runs, this is probably his last series.

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Watch Out for

• The Left-Handed Giants
  • In the ODI series, Marco Jansen scored a magnificent 75 (59) batting at No. 7, and then there was that unforgettable one-handed catch.
  • Look no further than Mitchell Starc. Since 2025, he has taken 72 wickets in just 14 Tests, often with his classic first-over breakthroughs.
• The Never-Give-up Keepers
  • Kyle Verreynne usually flies under the radar, and a career average of 30.14 might not inspire much on paper. But since 2025, he has scored some gutsy knocks batting at No.7 and No. 8: 100, 36, 42*, and 45.
  • It’s not over till you get Alex Carey out. Carey has not been among the runs in 2026, but you just need to rewind to the Ashes to see what he can do: 63, 106, and 72.

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Expected XIs

South Africa have already released their XI. Australia have some questions to answer. We will probably see Cooper Connolly and Nic Maddinson sometime in the series, and I hope we get a glimpse of Kuhnemann, Boland, and Neser in one Test as well.

Both teams have been hit with some recent injuries and have unsettled line ups.

Australia Potential XI

1. Travis Head, 2. Matt Renshaw, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Steven Smith, 5. Nic Maddinson/Cooper Connolly, 6. Beau Webster, 7. Alex Carey (WK), 8. Pat Cummins (C), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Josh Hazlewood, 11. Nathan Lyon

Australia Rest of Test Squad: Sam Harper (WK), Michael Neser, Scott Boland, Matthew Kuhnemann

News

• In the SA-XI vs Aus tour match, 11 Australians bowled. Labuschagne, with the axe hanging over him, scored 111 (89). Smith & Carey scored 50s and Webster-Connolly-Renshaw-Head were among the runs as well.
• Josh Inglis is ruled out of the series with a fractured finger.
• Cameron Green is out for the first Test.
• Matt Renshaw was cleared of wrist injury (from ODI series) and is available for selection.

South Africa Potential XI

1. Aiden Markram, 2. Ryan Rickelton, 3. David Bedingham, 4. Temba Bavuma (C), 5. Tristan Stubbs, 6. Wiaan Mulder, 7. Kyle Verreynne (WK), 8. Marco Jansen, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Simon Harmer, 11. Anrich Nortje

Rest of the Squad: Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch, Marques Ackerman, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada/Tony de Zorzi (injured for the first Test)

News

• Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out of the first Test due to hamstring injury.
• Tony de Zorzi is out of the Test with a hamstring injury as well.
  

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Final Thoughts and Predictions

Broken Dream?

With 1,641 Test wickets between them, this is the beginning of the end for one of Test cricket’s greatest quartets: Nathan Lyon (571), Mitchell Starc (445), Pat Cummins (322) and Josh Hazlewood (303). In Starc’s own words, beating South Africa, India and England away over the next 12 months would be like “winning four majors in the same year,” with the 2027 ODI World Cup in South Africa as the pinnacle.

And don’t forget, the 37-year olds: We won’t see Steve Smith, Michael Neser, and Scotty Boland much long either.

Prediction

South Africa 2, Australia 1.

I am hoping for a hard fought, sandpaper-less series.

That’s it from me. What are your predictions? Comment below or share on social media!

Also Read: Thank you, Temba: An Open Letter to South Africa’s WTC Winning Class of 2025

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