The top order is the bigger problem because the bowling has an obvious fix and the batters do not. Rabada is likely to return from his hamstring injury for the second Test, which starts on 18 October, yet no comparable reinforcement exists for a lineup dismissed for 284 and 206 in Durban. Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning by 214 runs, and their quicks will test a batting group that has yet to find its feet, and the margin for error is shrinking.
The Durban Collapse in Numbers
South Africa made 284 in 78 overs and then 206 in 86.5, while Australia replied with 390 and declared on 314/6 to set a target of 421. Hazlewood took 6/49 and the visitors won by 214 runs. The hosts never looked like closing that gap once the first-innings deficit reached 106. Those numbers describe a team that lost control in both innings.
Their most productive stand was 84 for the second wicket in the first innings. In the second, Markram and Mulder added 69 for the fifth wicket across 205 balls, and Markram and Jansen put on 45 for the seventh. No partnership came close to a century, which is how a chase of 421 turned into a defeat. That gap in resistance is the central reason the batting draws more concern.
South Africa vs Australia Test series batting
The damage began at the top. Rickelton fell for 0 and 2, both times to Hazlewood, while Stubbs scored 32 and 1 and lost his wicket to Cummins twice. Verreynne made 13 and 1, undone by Lyon and then Renshaw. Three dismissals of this kind handed Australia early control in both innings.
Recent scores tell a similar story, since Rickelton’s best score in his last five innings is 35, reached twice. Markram is the one batter with a proven record against Australia, averaging 61.60. Australia lead the overall Test history with 54 wins to South Africa’s 27, and 21 draws sit between them.
Batter | Durban Scores | Dismissed By | Last Five Innings |
|---|---|---|---|
Rickelton | 0, 2 | Hazlewood twice | 2, 0, 35, 35, 11 |
Stubbs | 32, 1 | Cummins twice | 1, 32, 94, 49, 5 |
Verreynne | 13, 1 | Lyon, Renshaw | 1, 13, 45, 9, 16 |
Rabada’s Return Steadies the Attack
Rabada missed Durban with a hamstring problem, but Bavuma has said he looks good. A fit Rabada changes the tone of the attack at once. A return looks likely, although medical clearance is not confirmed, and the squad is due on Thursday. His career figures of 340 wickets in 73 Tests at 22.03 show why the selectors want him back.
Nortje sent down 40 overs in Durban and is likely to be rested. Coetzee, Bosch and Paterson are the alternatives, while Ngidi, Maphaka and Baartman are all injured. That is a thinner pool than South Africa would like, yet it still contains enough quality to build a competitive attack. Selectors can rotate without weakening the unit too badly.
Options Behind the Top Order
Ackerman has no caps, yet he averages 48.66 over a first-class career that has produced 5,986 runs, which makes him an easy name to consider when the squad is named. He would be a gamble against an attack that has just taken 20 wickets in Durban. Still, a batter in form is worth more than another failed top-order test.
The numbers above show how little security anyone has. Stubbs has a 94 in his last five innings, but also a 5 and a 1, and Verreynne’s best is 45. Not one of the three has produced a score that settles an argument.
A Problem Without a Quick Fix
The pace attack can be repaired by a single selection, because Rabada slots in and Nortje can rest. Fixing the bowling is a matter of availability, not invention. The batting offers no such switch, since the same names are likely to face Hazlewood and Cummins again. Australia’s lead in the head-to-head record only underlines the size of the task.
The South Africa vs Australia Test series batting question will decide the second Test long before the bowlers do. A top order that scrapes together 200 will lose again, however well Rabada bowls. That is why the runs, not the wickets, are the bigger worry.
Can South Africa’s top order fix itself in Gqeberha, or must the selectors gamble on an uncapped name? Tell us in the comments.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
When is the second Test between South Africa and Australia?
The second Test runs from 18 to 22 October. It is played at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, with Australia leading the three-match series 1-0.
Who won the first Test in Durban?
Australia won by 214 runs. Australia made 390 and 314/6 declared, set a target of 421, then dismissed South Africa for 284 and 206, with Hazlewood taking 6/49.
Will Rabada play the second Test?
He is likely to return, but medical clearance is unconfirmed. Rabada missed Durban with a hamstring injury, though Bavuma has said he looks good and the squad is due on Thursday.
How do South Africa and Australia compare in Test history?
Australia lead with 54 wins to South Africa’s 27. Another 21 Tests were drawn, and Markram averages 61.60 against them as the one South African batter with a strong record in the fixture.
What are Rabada’s career Test numbers?
Rabada has taken 340 wickets in 73 Tests. He averages 22.03, and he is expected to be back for the second Test, subject to medical clearance after the hamstring injury that kept him out of Durban.