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Kagiso Rabada returns to bowling, South Africa wait on final fitness call ahead of 1st Test vs Australia

South Africa’s hopes for a strong bowling attack in the opening Test against Australia hinge on Kagiso Rabada’s fitness, with the fast bowler returning to action after a prolonged absence. Rabada, who has not played competitive cricket since May’s IPL and missed the past year of red-ball matches due to injuries, bowled in a two-day intra-squad practice game over the weekend and showed promising signs of recovery.

However, his match fitness remains unproven, as his last Test appearance came in October 2023 during South Africa’s tour of Pakistan. The team’s management, led by batting coach Ashwell Prince, has emphasized caution, allowing Rabada to continue training with the squad while delaying a final decision on his availability for the series opener at Kingsmead on October 9.

Prince noted that while Rabada is not yet at full strength, his recent performances in nets have been encouraging, and the team will assess his readiness in the coming days before making a selection call. Meanwhile, South Africa has retained 17 players in their squad, including seven pacers, to maximize bowling workloads ahead of the high-stakes World Test Championship clash.

Uncapped batter Marques Ackerman is also in contention for a Test debut, potentially at the No. 3 batting spot, as the Proteas aim to balance experience with fresh talent in the upcoming series.

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