South Africa Drop Stubbs, Call Up Breetzke for Second Australia Test

South Africa have dropped Tristan Stubbs, called up Matthew Breetzke and confirmed Ryan Rickelton as wicketkeeper for the second Test against Australia in Gqeberha. Kagiso Rabada is also ready to return after a hamstring injury, while the hosts are unlikely to field two spinners again.

South Africa prepare for a reshaped contest

The changes come after Australia took a decisive 1-0 lead in Durban, repeating part of the pattern from the teams’ previous Test series in South Africa in 2018. Australia’s victory was built on strong middle-order batting and disciplined fast bowling.

Matt Renshaw was the standout performer in Durban, making 190 and 82 and taking two wickets. Josh Hazlewood then produced a career-best fourth-innings haul, making South Africa’s defeat heavier than their loss in 2018.

Aiden Markram was South Africa’s only major contributor in the fourth innings, scoring 75. His effort almost mirrored his 143 in a fruitless fourth-innings chase against Australia in 2018.

The comparison with 2018, however, breaks down when it comes to South Africa’s response. Eight years ago, the hosts made only one change for the second Test, bringing in Lungi Ngidi for Morne Morkel.

This time, South Africa could make several changes. Rabada is ready to return at the same venue where he had an infamous run-in with Steven Smith eight years ago.

Stubbs has been left out, with Breetzke called up as South Africa look for a batter capable of producing an innings similar to the one AB de Villiers made against Australia’s fast-bowling attack at St George’s Park in 2018. Marques Ackerman is also a chance to make his debut at No. 5.

South Africa’s decision to play two spinners in Durban backfired, and that combination is unlikely to be repeated on a surface expected to retain a decent covering of grass. Wet weather is also expected to influence the match across the week.

If South Africa use only one spinner, Senuran Muthusamy could come into contention ahead of Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer. Anrich Nortje is also expected to retain his place after captain Temba Bavuma indicated that he was ready to play again.

Nortje bowled 40 overs in Durban, his first Test appearance in three years. The fact that he is considered available gives South Africa another pace option as they attempt to level the series.

Rickelton handed a new responsibility

Rickelton’s returns of 0 and 2 in the opening Test have come under scrutiny. Since scoring 259 against Pakistan in January 2025, he has made only one half-century in 12 Test innings and averages 25.72 in that period.

All three of his single-digit scores in that period have come against Australia. South Africa’s response has been to give him the wicketkeeping gloves in Test cricket for the first time and potentially move him lower in the batting order.

Rickelton has not batted lower than No. 3 since October 2024. October 2024 was also the only time since then that he had batted lower than No. 5.

He does, however, have extensive experience in the dual role in white-ball cricket and first-class cricket. Twelve of his 19 first-class centuries have come while he was keeping wicket.

South Africa will want Rickelton to combine the wicketkeeping role with greater output from the bat. Kyle Verreynne, who is expected to be left out, has averaged 20 over his last 13 innings without making a half-century.

Rickelton’s move behind the stumps also helps explain the likely reshaping of the South African XI. The probable combination has him listed at No. 7 as wicketkeeper, with Breetzke likely to open the batting.

The probable South Africa XI is Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma as captain, Marques Ackerman, Wiaan Mulder, Ryan Rickelton as wicketkeeper, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, one of Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer or Senuran Muthusamy, and Anrich Nortje.

Australia’s selection picture is clearer

Australia appear settled by comparison, despite the selection uncertainty that surrounded the team before the Durban Test. Cameron Green remains unavailable, delaying the middle-order squeeze until at least the third Test.

Australia could have the series wrapped up by then and move another step closer to the World Test Championship final. Green is still unavailable because of an abdominal strain, leaving Australia in a strong position to retain an unchanged XI.

Josh Inglis is fit to play as a batter but is unlikely to force his way into the team. Cooper Connolly is also available as an extra left-arm orthodox spin option in the top seven, although he is not expected to replace Beau Webster.

Australia’s fast bowlers have recovered well and are expected to play again. Scott Boland is set to carry the drinks for the fourth Test in a row, although Australia continue to discuss the possibility of playing four fast bowlers.

The main question around the Australian attack is how well its ageing quicks recover after the short turnaround. They bowled last on a flat Durban pitch and carried a heavy workload.

There is no suggestion that any of them will miss the match. However, the cumulative effect could become important if Australia bowl first in Gqeberha.

The probable Australia XI is Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey as wicketkeeper, Beau Webster, Pat Cummins as captain, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood.

Australia captain Pat Cummins said he wanted to wait until the morning of the match before naming his XI. That leaves room for a final decision on the balance of the team, even though the available information points towards continuity.

The question surrounding Travis Head

Head is not under selection pressure, but Australia have yet to find a settled way to get the best out of their most destructive match-winner with the bat. The issue involves the captain, coach and selectors as much as it involves Head himself.

Head is only three Tests removed from his most recent century, which came while he was opening the batting. His overall record, however, makes the case for using him as an opener in every situation less certain.

He averages 23.66 when opening in the first innings of Tests and 54.69 when batting at No. 5. In the second, third and fourth innings, those figures are reversed: he averages 57.86 as an opener and 33.46 at No. 5.

Australia have repeatedly discussed flexible batting orders. The tactical question is whether they will finally use Head at No. 5 in the first innings and move him to the opening position in the second, third and fourth innings.

His home-and-away record is another area he would want to improve. Head averages 51.86 in Australia and has made 11 of his 12 hundreds there.

Overseas, his average is 31.62. Across Australia’s last 27 Tests since late July 2023, only three top-three batters have scored Test centuries.

Two of those centuries came from the retired pair of Usman Khawaja and David Warner. Head is the third batter in that group.

World Test Championship stakes

The match carries significance beyond the immediate series result. South Africa need a result because a defeat in Gqeberha would see them drop to fifth in the World Test Championship table, behind Bangladesh and India.

Australia, meanwhile, can move closer to a third successive World Test Championship final. That makes the second Test important even though a substantial amount of cricket remains in the current cycle.

For South Africa, the match is effectively a chance to prevent the series from moving beyond their reach. For Australia, another victory would strengthen both their position in the series and their path towards the WTC final.

Gqeberha conditions and history

The forecast is uncertain for the first two days, while the weather is expected to be clear from the third day onwards. It remains difficult to predict how much rain will arrive and how much play could be lost.

Gqeberha was dry during the build-up after rain through September. Although the surface appeared dry and ready for play from three days before the match, it was still expected to retain a good covering of grass.

The pitch is expected to be on the slower side, even though the adjacent centre-wicket pitch had shown decent pace. Those conditions are part of the reason South Africa are unlikely to repeat the two-spinner combination used in Durban.

The Test head-to-head record at St George’s Park is 4-3 in South Africa’s favour. Australia have not won at the venue since 1997.

Six bowlers have taken more than 20 wickets at St George’s Park. None has a better strike rate than Rabada’s 40.8, and he took 11 wickets against Australia at the venue in 2018.

The ground is also expected to offer a different atmosphere. Bavuma said, “Playing in PE, it's one of the ones we look forward to. There's a bit of a different atmosphere with the band. Where we stay close to the mall, there's a lot more excitement from people.”

“Hopefully that excitement translates to bums on the seats,” Bavuma said. He added, “It's a Sunday, day one. I don't know whether the weather is going to encourage people's enthusiasm. Generally, PE is decently attended.”

South Africa’s recent five-Test sequence is LWWWL, with the most recent result listed first. Australia’s sequence is WWLWL.

The hosts therefore enter the second Test with selection changes, a new wicketkeeping arrangement and a possible return for Rabada. Australia have fewer immediate selection problems, but the recovery of their fast bowlers and the use of Head remain important questions before the teams meet again.