Cairns, August 18: South Africa will be without their spearhead Kagiso Rabada in the ODI series against Australia after the fast bowler was forced out with an ankle problem. The three-match series begins on Tuesday in Cairns, but Rabada won’t feature after medical scans confirmed inflammation in his right ankle.
Cricket South Africa announced the news on Monday, saying the 30-year-old will remain in Australia and begin treatment with the team’s medical staff. While the injury isn’t considered long term, the decision was taken to rest him immediately rather than risk further damage.
Without Rabada, the Proteas’ pace attack suddenly looks very different. The selectors have turned to Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger and Wiaan Mulder to handle the workload. Ngidi is the senior option with plenty of white-ball experience, Burger’s left-arm angle adds some variety, and Mulder’s all-round skills give the side flexibility. None of them, however, carry the same fear factor Rabada does with the new ball.
Australia, on the other hand, won’t be complaining. Facing Rabada up front is a challenge most batters would rather avoid, and his absence will ease some early nerves for the likes of David Warner, Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. South Africa’s bowlers will have to find ways to contain that top order without their leader.
The bigger picture here is workload management. With a busy calendar ahead, including ICC events, the South African camp is clearly unwilling to gamble on their strike bowler. Keeping him under medical supervision in Australia allows him to recover while staying close to the squad.
This series still carries plenty of significance. For South Africa, it’s a chance to see how younger players cope under pressure in tough conditions. Burger, in particular, will get a real test of his credentials. For Australia, it’s about tightening combinations and pressing home the advantage against a weakened attack.
The series kicks off on August 19 in Cairns, before moving to Mackay on August 22 and 24. Without Rabada, the focus shifts to Ngidi and Burger—two bowlers who now carry extra responsibility. Whether they can handle that pressure is something we’ll find out soon enough.
If you’re keeping track of this matchup, don’t forget to look at our Today Match Prediction for the Australia vs South Africa 1st ODI on cricketbettingtips.org, where we broke down the form guide, the odds, and the key contests to watch.