Rabada missed the first Test in Durban, which South Africa lost by 214 runs, but trained with the squad while completing his recovery from a hamstring injury. Bavuma said the fast bowler was “raring to go” and pointed to his record against Australia: 58 wickets at 21.39 in 11 Tests.

That includes nine in South Africa’s win in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s, and 11 in the corresponding Test in 2017/18, when South Africa also came back from a first-Test defeat in Durban.

“The bowlers feed massively off him,” Bavuma said. “There’s an aura and a lot of belief in KG (Rabada) and that rubs off on the other players.”

Rain is possible on the first two days, so Bavuma and Australia captain Pat Cummins will wait until Sunday to finalise their teams.

South Africa’s batting line-up is set to change after a poor display in Durban. Bavuma indicated that Matthew Breetzke and the uncapped Marques Ackerman would both play. “To concede a lead like that on a wicket like that was rather criminal,” he said of the first innings.

For Australia, Cummins said Matt Renshaw would stay at number five after scoring 190 and 82 in Durban and taking the player of the match award. Renshaw normally opens, and Cummins praised his willingness to take on a new role. “He just said, ‘yep, no worries, whatever the team needs’.”

Cameron Green is still not ready after suffering an abdominal injury in last month’s one-day series against South Africa, while Josh Inglis is “close” to a return from a broken finger.

– AFP

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