With Cameron Green injured, Australia have not named their XI for the first Test at Kingsmead and are weighing Cooper Connolly against Nic Maddinson, with a final look at the pitch still to come.
Australia had not confirmed their XI for the first Test against South Africa when ESPNcricinfo reported on Thursday 8 October 2026 (byline Andrew McGlashan). The side want a final look at the Kingsmead pitch, and the open question is who fills the middle-order spot left by the injured Cameron Green.
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Match | South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Kingsmead, Durban, from Friday 9 October (listed as 9-13 October by cricket.com.au) |
| South Africa | XI already confirmed, with Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer as two frontline spinners |
| Australia | XI not confirmed; Cummins says a side is in mind but the batting combination is still being weighed |
| Vacancy | Cameron Green is injured and out for at least the Durban Test |
| Contenders | Cooper Connolly and Nic Maddinson |
Connolly's case
Cooper Connolly is in contention to replace Green. He has played one Test, against Sri Lanka in early 2025, and offers left-arm spin on a surface that is expected to turn later in the match.
One detail from the final training session: Connolly left in a separate vehicle from the rest of the group, wearing a mask, after reporting head-cold symptoms. As reported, he had trained normally, and it was unclear whether it will have any impact on selection.
Maddinson's case
Nic Maddinson is also in the frame, even though he has not played first-class cricket since March 2025. The report sets out a route in which both Connolly and Maddinson play, with Beau Webster missing out.
Detail from other outlets, as reported there rather than by Cricinfo: cricket.com.au lists a possible Australia XI, says spin is expected to grow at Kingsmead and rates Maddinson against spin. Cricbuzz's tour observations note Connolly's limited batting time in the warm-up and Webster's value as a seam-bowling option.
Labuschagne and Cummins
Marnus Labuschagne has gone three years without a Test hundred, but he scored a rapid century in the warm-up against the CSA Invitational XI in Potchefstroom. Cummins' view, in paraphrase, is that Labuschagne is close to his best.
Cummins himself is returning from a back stress fracture with a managed build-up: five overs in the final ODI and eight in the warm-up. He said: "Physically I feel really fresh, I feel great".
He also urged Australia to be ready for a slower, grinding tempo, pointing back to the defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin. Australia have played three two-day Tests in the last ten months.
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