South Africa vs Australia Durban Test PREVIEW: Eight years is a long time in cricket. Players retire, new stars arrive, teams change, and old rivalries slowly fade. But some Test series stay in fans’ memories for years.

When Australia last toured South Africa in 2018, the cricket became bigger than the scorecard. The tour had the infamous Sandpaper Gate scandal, bans for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft, the Warner-Quinton de Kock clash, Nathan Lyon’s controversial reaction after running out AB de Villiers, Kagiso Rabada’s heated battle with Smith, and Faf du Plessis coming into the dressing-room corridor wearing only a towel.

Now, after more than eight years, South Africa vs Australia is back.

The first Test starts in Durban on October 9. But this time, spin is already a major talking point, with Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer both in contention.

The last South Africa vs Australia Test series in South Africa was chaos

The last time Australia played a Test series in South Africa, the tour became one of the most controversial in modern cricket history.

The first Test took place at Kingsmead. Australia won by 118 runs. Mitchell Starc took nine wickets in the match, while Aiden Markram scored a brilliant 143 in the fourth innings. South Africa went 1-0 down before the series even moved to Port Elizabeth.

But the result was almost secondary because of everything that happened around the match.

AB de Villiers was run out for a duck after a mix-up with Aiden Markram. Nathan Lyon collected the ball and dropped it beside the fallen South African batter. The incident led to a Level 1 charge and an apology from Lyon.

Then came the Warner-de Kock confrontation.

During the tea break, Warner and de Kock had a heated exchange in the stairway leading to the dressing rooms. Warner’s Australian teammates had to hold him back. Faf du Plessis had been showering at the time. He came out to see what was happening, wearing only a towel.

AB de Villiers summed up the mood on X with a simple line:

“This series will be one to remember.”

He was right.

The series became even more dramatic after that. South Africa won the next three Tests and took the series 3-1. It was their first home series win over Australia since 1970.

The Cape Town Test then produced the Sandpaper Gate scandal. The incident led to long bans for Smith and Warner and a nine-month ban for Bancroft.

That 2018 series also became the final Test series of AB de Villiers’ career.

So, when Australia return to Kingsmead this week, they will find plenty of history waiting for them.

But this is not the same rivalry anymore

The players have changed, and so has the rivalry.

David Warner and Quinton de Kock are no longer part of Test cricket. Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers have retired. Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc remain, but Pat Cummins now leads Australia.

Simon Harmer also does not expect the same level of hostility this time. The South African spinner pointed to the growth of franchise cricket. Players from rival international teams now often play together in leagues around the world. Harmer feels these friendships have reduced some of the old tension.

Temba Bavuma has shared a similar view. He expects plenty of intensity and banter, but nothing beyond normal Test competition.

Still, the history remains.

South Africa’s 2025 World Test Championship Final win adds another layer. They beat Australia by five wickets at Lord’s to win their first WTC title. Now, both teams meet again in the 2025-27 WTC cycle.

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South Africa vs Australia Expected Playing XI

Here are the expected playing XI of the South Africa vs Australia Durban Test. 

South Africa possible XI

Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje

South Africa have announced their playing XI for the Durban test. The biggest question was the bowling combination.

KG couldn’t make it to that much fitness that will allow him to feature in the first test. We will see Nortje in test cricket again.

Australia possible XI

Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Nic Maddinson, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood

Australia also have an interesting selection problem.

Cameron Green will miss the first Test because of an abdominal strain. Josh Inglis is also unavailable because of a fractured finger.

Nic Maddinson later joined the squad and is now a serious option in the middle order. His possible selection is interesting because he has not played Test cricket since 2016.

Cooper Connolly is another option because he was already part of the original squad.

The bowling attack looks much more settled.

Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood are likely to form the three-man pace attack, with Nathan Lyon as the main spinner.

Australia also have Matthew Kuhnemann. However, coach Andrew McDonald has suggested that Australia would need a very strong reason to play two spinners.

So, even if the Kingsmead pitch starts turning, Australia may still trust Lyon as their only spinner.

The biggest selection twist: two spinners vs one

This could become the main tactical story of the Durban Test.

Kingsmead usually offers pace, bounce and movement. But this time, the pitch could become slower and give more help to spin as the match goes on.

Travis Head also admitted that spin could be a bigger threat than pace.

He said the ODI pitches had been on the drier side. He also suggested that the Test pitch could become slower and offer more turn because of the time of year.

That explains why South Africa are thinking about playing both Maharaj and Harmer.

Maharaj already has strong memories of bowling against Australia at this ground. He took nine wickets in the 2018 first Test, even though South Africa lost the match.

Harmer offers a different type of off-spin and also has experience of bowling in Durban.

For Australia, the decision looks simpler.

Lyon is almost certain to play. Kuhnemann is the question.

If Australia believe the pitch will turn from the middle of the match, they could consider two spinners. Otherwise, they are likely to stay with their usual pace-and-spin attack.

Head-to-head: South Africa vs Australia in Tests

The recent head-to-head record is interesting because the teams have played only once since their 2022-23 bilateral series.

Australia won that three-Test series in Australia 2-0. The first Test ended inside two days, while the third Test in Sydney ended in a draw.

But the most recent Test between the two sides went South Africa’s way.

In the 2025 World Test Championship Final, South Africa chased 282 and beat Australia by five wickets at Lord’s. Aiden Markram scored 136 and played the biggest innings of the match.

However, the last bilateral series in South Africa remains the unforgettable 2018 contest.

South Africa won that series 3-1 after losing the opening Test in Durban by 118 runs.

So, the recent record says Australia won the last bilateral Test series between the teams.

The bigger memory says South Africa won the last Test between them.

And the location adds another important point: Australia have not played a Test series in South Africa since the most controversial tour of the modern era.

Strengths and weaknesses: where can this series be won?

South Africa’s biggest strength: bowling

South Africa’s bowling is the biggest reason to back them at home.

Rabada, if fit, gives them a world-class strike bowler. Marco Jansen brings height, bounce and left-arm variety. Maharaj and Harmer could then use the pitch if it starts turning.

South Africa also have useful depth. Coetzee, Nortje, Paterson and Muthusamy give Shukri Conrad several bowling options.

The bigger problem is the batting.

South Africa have quality batters, but they have not always scored consistently across the top and middle order. The No.3 and No.5 positions are still part of the selection debate.

That could become a major problem against Australia’s bowling attack.

Australia’s biggest strength: the bowling attack

Australia have a bowling attack that almost picks itself.

Cummins. Starc. Hazlewood. Lyon.

That combination has enough experience to trouble any batting line-up.

The question is what happens if the bowlers cannot cover for the batting.

Marnus Labuschagne’s recent form has been a major talking point. He did help his case with a quick century in the tour match. He reached three figures in only 79 balls.

But Australia still have questions in their batting order.

Renshaw has returned to Test cricket after a long gap. Maddinson is trying to make a major comeback. Green is unavailable for the first Test. Australia’s middle order also has fewer guarantees than it had during their strongest years.

That is why this series could become a battle between two strong bowling attacks rather than a run-fest.

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Pitch and weather report: Kingsmead may not behave like Kingsmead

This could be the most interesting part of the South Africa vs Australia pitch report.

The first Test will take place from October 9-13. It will also be the first Test ever played at Kingsmead in October. The unusual timing could bring a different type of pitch.

The current expectation is that the pitch could start well for batting but become slower and offer more help to spin as the match goes on.

That explains the growing talk about a possible Kingsmead turning pitch.

The weather also looks good for the start. Current forecasts for October 9 suggest a mostly sunny or partly cloudy day with temperatures around 26°C. The chance of rain is also relatively low.

The following days could have more cloud, but there is currently no sign of a major washout threat.

So, rain may not be the biggest concern.

The bigger question is what happens to the pitch after 100, 150 and 200 overs.

If the surface starts breaking up, South Africa’s decision to play two spinners could suddenly look very smart.

Players to Watch Out For in South Africa vs Australia 1st Test

Here are the players to watch out for in the 1st South Africa vs Australia Test. 

South Africa: Aiden Markram

Markram is an obvious player to watch because of his record against Australia.

He scored 143 in the fourth innings of the 2018 Durban Test, even though South Africa lost by 118 runs. Seven years later, he scored 136 in the WTC Final to help South Africa beat Australia and win the title.

He has already shown that he can produce big innings against this attack when the pressure is high.

South Africa: Kagiso Rabada

If Kagiso Rabada is fit, he changes the whole feel of South Africa’s bowling attack.

He has 340 Test wickets and played an important role in South Africa’s WTC Final win. But the big question is whether he can return strongly after not playing competitive cricket since the IPL in May.

A fully fit Rabada could turn South Africa’s very good attack into a frightening one.

Australia: Travis Head

Head is the type of batter who can change a Test session very quickly.

He is also entering the series with questions about his position. Some have asked whether he should continue opening or return to the middle order.

Head has rejected the outside noise and backed his role at the top.

Against South Africa’s pace attack, his attacking style could put the Proteas under pressure early. But it could also expose him to early movement.

Australia: Mitchell Starc

Starc has already created a strong memory in this rivalry.

He took nine wickets in the 2018 Durban Test, including 5-34 in South Africa’s first innings.

Eight years later, he returns to the same ground.

And he can still change a Test match with one spell.

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Battles to watch in South Africa vs Australia at Kingsmead 

Here are the rivalries to watch in the South Africa vs Australia 1st test. 

Rabada vs Travis Head

If Rabada plays, this could become one of the key battles of the opening session.

Head will want to attack from the start.

Rabada will want to make him play.

The winner of this battle could set the tone for the entire Test.

Nathan Lyon vs Aiden Markram

If the pitch starts turning, this could become a fascinating contest.

Markram is comfortable against spin. But Lyon’s ability to attack the stumps and create doubt outside off stump makes him dangerous on a turning surface.

Mitchell Starc vs Temba Bavuma

Starc’s pace and angle against Bavuma’s compact technique could create another important battle.

South Africa need their captain to handle the pressure, especially if their top order loses early wickets.

South Africa vs Australia: What to expect in Durban

The easiest way to sell this series would be to call it a rematch of 2018.

But this series is more interesting than that.

This is not Warner vs de Kock.

It is not Smith vs du Plessis.

It is not Sandpaper Gate.

Those players and that era are gone.

What remains is the memory — and a rivalry that now has a new generation.

South Africa are the reigning World Test champions. They also beat Australia in the last Test between the two teams.

Australia still have one of the most experienced bowling attacks in Test cricket. They have also shown that they can dominate South Africa in their own backyard.

Now they return to Durban, the same venue where the 2018 series started with an Australian victory before everything went out of control.

This time, the biggest battle may not happen in a dressing-room corridor.

It may happen on a dry pitch, with Lyon on one side and Maharaj-Harmer on the other.

That could make the first South Africa vs Australia Test just as interesting for cricket reasons as it is because of everything that happened eight years ago.

Will South Africa’s possible two-spin attack make the most of the Durban surface? Or will Australia’s experienced pace attack once again silence the Proteas at Kingsmead?

What are your predictions for the first South Africa vs Australia test in Durban? Let us know in the comments. 

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