Rabada still in with a shout of facing Aussies in first Test at Kingsmead

Leading Proteas fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will have until "as late as possible" to prove his fitness before the first of three Tests against Australia, scheduled to commence in Durban on Friday. The 31-year-old, who has claimed 340 Test wickets in 73 matches at an average of 22, remains in a race against the clock to be fit for the Test at Kingsmead.

Good news for Rabada is that he participated in an intra-squad two-day game unscathed and reportedly "looked good" during the match at Chatsworth Oval on Sunday and Monday. Assistant Proteas coach Ashwell Prince confirmed on Tuesday that Rabada will continue to be involved in training, despite not being fully fit. Prince further stated that Rabada would not be "100% straight away," but his condition was looking promising, and a final decision on his inclusion would be made later.

The Proteas squad also includes fast bowlers Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Gerald Coetzee, and all-rounders Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Wiaan Mulder, alongside spinners Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy. Prince and his fellow coaches aimed to give their players adequate time in the middle during the warm-up match in Chatsworth, and they also sought to help the fast bowlers prepare for the upcoming Test series.

The Proteas recently triumphed in the World Test Championship final at Lord's, defeating Australia in June of last year. Prince mentioned that the players needed to adjust to the longer format of the game and reflect on their recent achievements. The squad has experienced players who are familiar with adapting across formats, including T20, ODIs, and Tests. The main focus ahead of Test cricket is to maintain balance and timing, as well as reflect on the successes of the last 18 months and continue doing so.