Australia return to South Africa for a Test series for the first time since ‘Sandpapergate’
The world's two top-ranked Test sides meet in Durban from Friday. South Africa are without Kagiso Rabada, and Anrich Nortje plays his first Test in more than three years.
Durban — Australia and South Africa begin a three-Test series in Durban on Friday, the first time the Australians have played Test cricket in South Africa since the ball-tampering scandal of 2018, Daily Maverick reports.
The first Test is at Kingsmead from 9 to 13 October. The series moves to Gqeberha from 18 to 22 October and ends in Cape Town from 27 to 31 October.
First against second
The teams hold the top two places in the World Test Championship table. South Africa won the championship last year by beating Australia at Lord's, and this is their first Test at home in 16 months.
What happened in 2018
On Australia's last tour, Cameron Bancroft was caught using sandpaper to roughen the ball during the third Test in Cape Town. The captain, Steve Smith, and vice-captain, David Warner, were stood down during the match, and all three were later banned. South Africa won that Test by 322 runs and the next by 492.
Australia were due to return in 2021 but withdrew, citing concerns over player welfare, which angered Cricket South Africa.
Nine players from the 2018 series are in the squads this time, among them Smith, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood for Australia, and Temba Bavuma, Aiden Markram and Keshav Maharaj for South Africa.
Team news
South Africa's leading fast bowler, Kagiso Rabada, is ruled out of the first Test. Anrich Nortje returns for his first Test in three years and eight months after a stress fracture of the spine and other injuries.
Australia are without the all-rounder Cameron Green, who has an abdominal strain.
This report is based on reporting by Daily Maverick. The match had not started when it was written.
