Kagiso Rabada has declared there is no lingering animosity with Australia as the South African fast bowler prepares to make his comeback at the venue where he was embroiled in a controversial confrontation with Steve Smith six years ago. According to The Guardian, Rabada has been cleared to return from a hamstring injury for the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha, marking his first appearance since May.
The 31-year-old's return arrives at a pivotal moment in the series, with South Africa needing to recover after suffering a 214-run defeat in the opening Test at Durban last week. The timing carries additional significance given that St George's Park was where Rabada received a two-Test suspension in 2018 for a shoulder collision with Smith while celebrating the batter's dismissal—a ban that was later reduced to a fine, a decision that left Smith and the Australian camp dissatisfied.
What happened in 2018?
The shoulder bump between Rabada and Smith, along with the subsequent appeal against the suspension, represented one of the final confrontational moments of that acrimonious series before the ball-tampering scandal eclipsed all other narratives. The incident occurred during a match in which Rabada took 11 wickets, earning man-of-the-series honours. Smith was unhappy that he was unable to present his perspective at the disciplinary hearing, a grievance that contributed to the lingering tension between the two players and their respective teams.
Has the tension persisted?
Rabada has faced Australia on 23 occasions across all formats since the 2018 incident without further controversy, and has also shared franchise cricket environments with several Australian players. Speaking to local media ahead of Sunday's match, Rabada made clear his perspective on the earlier clash and the broader competitive environment.
That is just the emotion of the game. It's about playing within the rules. As an athlete you want to go out and express yourself. There's no hate off the field or anything like that. It's a bunch of top-performing athletes who've got testosterone to burn. It's the heat of the moment. But, with the ICC, you have to take into consideration the rules that have been put in place regarding viewers who are watching the game, and keeping the game in a good light. That's understandable. You need characters in sport. But you also need to play within the rules.
Rabada's record against Australia underscores his standing as one of the world's premier fast bowlers. He has claimed 58 wickets at an average of 21.39 against the Australians, the second-best record of any quick bowler this century, trailing only India's Jasprit Bumrah. According to Cricket Australia, his overall Test strike rate stands at 39.5 balls per wicket, with a more recent rate of 36.6 over the past four years, demonstrating sustained excellence.
What impact will Rabada's return have?
South African captain Temba Bavuma emphasised the significance of Rabada's availability and his influence on the team's morale and performance. According to Times Live, Rabada had trained at full pace following his hamstring recovery, confirming his readiness for selection.
He'll obviously feed off the performances that he's had against Australia. The bowlers, they feed massively over him. He leads the attack in everything that he does. And then I think he brings an extra level of confidence to the unit. You mentioned the aura. There's a lot of belief in KG, and a lot of the guys rub off there. He's raring to go.
Bavuma's comments reflect the broader context of South Africa's series position. The hosts must recover from their opening-Test collapse to remain competitive in what is their first Test series against Australia since the 2018 ball-tampering scandal, an event that continues to cast a shadow over bilateral relations between the two nations.
What are the team changes?
South Africa has confirmed that Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne will be dropped from the squad, with Marques Ackerman and Matthew Breetzke expected to replace them. The Proteas will delay announcing their final XI until Sunday to assess weather conditions, as rain is forecast for the opening two days of the match.
Australia, meanwhile, faces its own selection challenges. Reserve wicketkeeper Josh Inglis sustained a finger fracture during the first Test and is expected to rejoin the squad for the Gqeberha match, with Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper having been called in as temporary cover. The visitors' squad composition mirrors the structure of 2018, with elite bowling compensating for batting uncertainty, a dynamic that has been reinforced by recent injuries to key players.
What happens next?
The second Test is scheduled to commence on 18 October at St George's Park, with play beginning at 10am local time. The match will run through 22 October, with both teams preparing for a potentially shortened contest given the weather forecast. A third Test is scheduled for 27–31 October at Newlands in Cape Town, meaning both sides remain in contention to shape the series outcome in the matches ahead.
