Proteas include Rabada in preliminary squad for Australia Test series
Rabada has amassed more than 1,000 runs in his last 10 red-ball appearances.
South Africa has included uncapped batter Marques Ackerman in their preliminary Test squad for the upcoming three-match series against Australia. Ackerman, only 30, has been outstanding for South Africa A, scoring over 1,000 runs in his last 10 red-ball appearances at an average of 82.92, including four centuries and a career-best 256 against Bangladesh A. Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, recovering from a hamstring injury, has also been selected, alongside seamers Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka, and Lungi Ngidi, who are sidelined with similar injuries.
To compensate for the absence of Baartman, Maphaka, and Ngidi, fast bowlers Gerald Coetzee, Anrich Nortje, and Dane Paterson have been recalled to the squad. Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad revealed that the 18-man preliminary squad will converge on Thursday, six days before the first Test in Durban on October 9. The camp will engage in a two-day intra-squad match and scenario-based training before a final 15-player squad is announced.
Conrad hopes the additional bowling options will provide flexibility against varying conditions. Ackerman's inclusion follows his impressive leadership and batting performances for the South Africa A side.
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