By Estea Rademeyer, Sports Journalist.
South Africa head to St George’s Park on Sunday needing a sharp improvement after their 214 -run defeat to Australia in Durban.
Trailing 1- 0 in the series, the Proteas have made changes to their batting order and wicketkeeping, while the expected return of Kagiso Rabada offers a timely boost to the bowling attack.
Tristan Stubbs has been dropped, with Matthew Breetzke in line for another Test opportunity after scoring 171 runs in the recent one day international series against Australia.
Ryan Rickelton will take over the wicketkeeping duties from Kyle Verreynne, although his batting position remains a key selection question. Aiden Markram, who scored 75 in the second innings at Kingsmead, is expected to return after missing training for personal reasons.
Rickelton has been putting in extra work behind the stumps. South Africa fielding coach Kruger van Wyk believes the change is justified by his experience across formats. “He is diligent with his work,” van Wyk said. “Even when he just plays as a batter, in the white ball stuff as well, he does his keeping work.”
Over the course of his career, Rickelton has kept wicket in close to two-thirds of the 341 matches he has played in at the competitive level across all formats. “I think he’s a first-choice keeper,” van Wyk said. “He has kept unbelievably well. And if you follow white-ball cricket, and his performances in IPL, you know it’s still a ball coming down at you.
It’s still cricket. The movements are the same. The way you glove it is exactly the same. Technically, he is very good.”
The greater challenge may be balancing the wicketkeeping role with Rickelton’s batting responsibilities. His recent Test returns have been modest and moving him down the order could give South Africa greater flexibility while allowing Breetzke to strengthen the top order.
With Tristan Stubbs dropped, there is a gap at No. 5, though that might be occupied by uncapped batter Marques Ackerman. That would leave Rickelton to bat at No. 6, ahead of Mulder, whose place is also dependent on the composition of the attack.
David Bedingham will also be under scrutiny after scores of 49 and 46 in Durban. The right hander showed promise but could not convert either start into a defining innings.
He believes South Africa’s batters need to occupy the crease for longer against an attack featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon.
“You get through six balls of Cummins and then you look and it’s Starc,” Bedingham said. “It’s tough, but we’ve faced them before, so hopefully we can just do it for longer periods of time.”
Coach Shukri Conrad has urged his side to respond without overreacting to the defeat. “This was neither a calamity nor a catastrophe. We just lost a cricket Test match. It doesn’t mean that you’ve now got to go soul searching. We need to show composure.”
Rabada’s expected return could provide South Africa with the pace and aggression missing in Durban. Australia’s Josh Hazlewood, who claimed career best figures of six for 49 in the first Test, has warned that reverse swing could again play a role if conditions allow the ball to deteriorate.
Rain is forecast around the opening days in Gqeberha, potentially complicating the teams’ plans and making the toss more significant.
Australia also have decisions to make after Matt Renshaw’s match changing 190 and 82. Coach Andrew McDonald has indicated that batting positions remain flexible as he assesses the best combination for the conditions.
For South Africa, the immediate priority is clear: turn starts into substantial scores and sustain pressure with the ball. Another defeat would put the series in serious danger. A response at St George’s Park would restore belief and give the Proteas a route back into the contest.