The Proteas have announced a refreshed 17-player squad for the second Test against Australia, set to commence on Sunday, October 18, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
The key changes see the return of star fast bowler Kagiso Rabada from injury and the inclusion of Matthew Breetzke, who replaces Tristan Stubbs.
South Africa Squad for 2nd Test vs Australia
The announcement comes swiftly after South Africa’s comprehensive 214-run defeat in the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, which concluded on Tuesday, October 13. Captain Temba Bavuma and coach Shukri Conrad will be hoping the squad adjustments provide the necessary impetus to level the three-match ICC World Test Championship series.
Kagiso Rabada Boosts Pace Attack,Matthew Breetzke Gets the Nod
Kagiso Rabada, a pivotal figure in the Proteas’ bowling arsenal, is “likely to feature” in the upcoming Test, having recovered from a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the series opener. His return will be a significant boost for the South African pace attack, which struggled to contain the Australian batters in Durban. Rabada recently starred in South Africa’s ICC World Test Championship 2025 final victory over Australia, where he delivered a match-winning performance.
In the batting department, Matthew Breetzke has been drafted into the squad, replacing Tristan Stubbs. Breetzke, who was born on November 3, 1998, and is currently 27 years old, has previously played two Tests for the Proteas against Bangladesh in 2024 and Zimbabwe in 2025, earning his spot on the back of strong recent form, particularly in one-day cricket. Additionally, Ryan Rickelton will take over the wicketkeeping responsibilities for the second Test, a move that sees Kyle Verreynne retained in the squad purely as a batter. Tony de Zorzi remains unavailable as he continues his recovery from a left hamstring injury.
Match Details and Where to Watch
The second Test is scheduled from Sunday, October 18, to Thursday, October 22, 2026, at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. Play will commence daily at 1:30 PM IST. Cricket fans can catch all the action live on Eurosport TV channel and Fancode app and website in India.
Full South Africa Squad for 2nd Test vs Australia
| Player Name | Role |
|---|---|
| Temba Bavuma (c) | Batter |
| Marques Ackerman | Batter |
| David Bedingham | Batter |
| Matthew Breetzke | Batter |
| Corbin Bosch | All-rounder |
| Gerald Coetzee | Bowler |
| Simon Harmer | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Marco Jansen | All-rounder |
| Keshav Maharaj | Bowler (Spinner) |
| Aiden Markram | Batter/All-rounder |
| Wiaan Mulder | All-rounder |
| Senuran Muthusamy | All-rounder |
| Anrich Nortje | Bowler |
| Dane Paterson | Bowler |
| Kagiso Rabada | Bowler |
| Ryan Rickelton (wk) | Batter/Wicketkeeper |
| Kyle Verreynne | Batter |
Note: Ryan Rickelton will keep wickets.
Historical Context and Recent Form
Historically, Australia holds a dominant head-to-head record against South Africa in Test cricket, with 54 wins compared to the Proteas’ 27 victories in 102 matches, alongside 21 draws. However, South Africa has enjoyed recent success, including their triumph over Australia in the ICC World Test Championship 2025 final. Moreover, the Proteas won their last Test series against Australia at home in 2018, securing a 3-1 victory. .
The first Test saw Australia post a commanding 390 in their first innings, with Matt Renshaw scoring 190. South Africa responded with 284, followed by Australia’s second innings declaration at 314/6. The Proteas were then bowled out for 206, with Josh Hazlewood claiming a six-wicket haul, sealing Australia’s win.
The Proteas will be eager to leverage home advantage and Rabada’s probable return to halt Australia’s momentum and reignite their campaign in the World Test Championship cycle.