Durban hosts the first of three test matches between South Africa and Australia, the game gets under way on Friday and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting
This is a 3 match series with St. Georges Park, Gqeberha hosting the second test and Newlands, Cape Town the third and we begin with the squads.
South Africa
· Captain: Temba Bavuma
· Batters: Marques Ackerman (uncapped), David Bedingham, Tony de Zorzi (ruled out of the 1st Test due to injury), Aiden Markram
· Wicketkeepers: Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne
· All-rounders/Spinners: Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj
· Bowlers: Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada (late decision on fitness)
Australia
· Captain: Pat Cummins
· Batters: Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Nic Maddinson (cover)
· Wicketkeepers: Alex Carey, Sam Harper (cover), Josh Inglis (injured/ruled out)
· All-rounders: Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green (ruled out of 1st test), Michael Neser, Beau Webster
· Spinners: Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon
· Bowlers: Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc
Recent Form:
South Africa
This will be the Proteas first test match action since they won 2-0 in India late in 2025.
They renew rivalry with Australia whom they beat by 5 wickets in the World Test Championship Final at Lords, London in June 2025.
vs India (Guwahati, Nov 2025) – SA won by 408 runs
vs India (Kolkata, Nov 2025) – SA won by 30 runs
vs Pakistan (Rawalpindi, Oct 2025) – SA won by 8 wickets
vs Pakistan (Lahore, Oct 2025) – SA lost by 93 runs
vs Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, Jul 2025) SA won by an innings and 236 runs
vs Zimbabwe (Bulawayo, Jul 2025) SA won by 328 runs
vs Australia (Lord's, Jun 2025) – SA won by 5 wickets
Australia
Australia were in test match action as recently as August when they drew a home series with Bangladesh 1-1 which including a 9 wicket hiding in Darwin.
vs Bangladesh (Mackay, Aug 2026) – Australia won by an innings & 51 runs
vs Bangladesh (Darwin, Aug 2026) – Australia lost by 9 wickets
vs England (Sydney, Jan 2026) – Australia won by 5 wickets
vs England (Melbourne, Dec 2025) – Australia lost by 4 wickets
vs England (Adelaide, Dec 2025) – Australia won by 82 runs
vs England (Brisbane, Dec 2025) – Australia won by 8 wickets
vs England (Perth, Nov/Dec 2025) – Australia won by 8 wickets
vs West Indies (Kingston, Jul 2025) – Australia won by 176 runs
vs West Indies (St. Georges, Jul 2025) – Australia won by 133 runs
vs West Indies (Bridgetown, Jul 2025) – Australia won by 159 runs
The Venue, Kingsmead, Durban
· vs Sri Lanka (27–30 November 2024) – SA won by 233 runs
· vs Bangladesh (31 March–4 April 2022) – SA won by 220 runs
· vs Sri Lanka (13–16 February 2019) – SA lost by 1 wicket
· vs Australia (1–5 March 2018) – SA lost by 118 runs
· vs New Zealand (19–23 August 2016) – Match drawn
Click Here For The Durban Weather Forecast
Series Betting
Prices quoted from Sportingbet are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
South Africa are 5/4 to win the 3 match series with a draw at 8/1 and Australia are slight favourites at 10/11
In the series correct score market Australia to win 2-1 is the favourite at 2/1.
A 3-0 clean sweep for South Africa is 6/1
1st Test Betting
Prices quoted from Sportingbet are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change.
South Africa are 11/10 to win the test with a draw at 29/4 and Australia can be backed at even money
Sportingbet price boosts include Bavuma to be top SA 1st innings bat at 9/2 (from /2) and Travis Head to be Australia’s top 1st innings bat at 7/2 (from 3/1)
The Verdict
South Africa’s fast bowling injury crisis will have them sweating on Rabada’s availability and it would appear a decision will be left as late as possible so watch the media for news of his well being.
I'll first focus on the Australian batting line up and having read an article that suggests Marnus Labuschagne is likely to back at 3 and also the fact he had an excellent prep in the warm up match, he gets the vote to score a 50 in the first knock.
In the equivalent market for South Africa, I'm, with Markram (Man of the Match when the teams last met in the WTC Final) to also reach 50
Bets: Marnus Labuschagne to score a 50 in the innings at 27/10 with Sportingbet
Aiden Markram to score a 50 in the innings at 26/10 with Sportingbet