Victorian wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper, 29, has joined Australia's Test squad in South Africa as cover for the injured Josh Inglis. Selector chair George Bailey explained what changed, and why Harper could even play as a specialist batter.
Sam Harper arrived in South Africa late on Friday. On Saturday he was carrying drinks at the JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom as Australia began a low-key two-day warm-up match against a CSA Invitational XI. The Victorian wicketkeeper-batter, 29, has been added to the Test squad as a replacement for Josh Inglis, who has a fractured right index finger and is ruled out of the first Test in Durban, which starts on 9 October.
Nic Maddinson, 34, was called up alongside Harper and took most of the headlines. Maddinson last played Test cricket in 2016 and underwent treatment for testicular cancer in 2025, which makes his return a remarkable comeback story. Harper's call-up is the quieter moment, but a notable one.
| Call-up summary | |
|---|---|
| Player | Sam Harper (Victoria) |
| Age | 29 |
| Role | Wicketkeeper-batter |
| Replaces | Josh Inglis (fractured right index finger) |
| Reason | Inglis ruled out of the first Test |
| First Test | Durban, starting 9 October 2026 |
From Puducherry to Potch
Harper's form turnaround is the heart of the story. At the beginning of February he was averaging 24.86 with three first-class hundreds from 64 matches. Just five matches later he has doubled his tally of centuries.
Victoria elevated him to the top of the order as a tactic for tricky Sheffield Shield batting conditions, and he responded with back-to-back centuries against Western Australia and a 93 against Tasmania. He then made a hundred for Australia A in Puducherry, this time in a middle-order role in spin-friendly conditions, which showed the versatility selectors value.
He is also the first wicketkeeper called into Australia's Test squad beyond Alex Carey and Josh Inglis since Jimmy Peirson was part of the 2023 Ashes tour, when Inglis returned home for the birth of his child.
What Bailey said
Selector chair George Bailey started with the keeping, because the batting is no longer in doubt. "[With] Harps the batting's been wonderful, but I think the keeping, he's worked incredibly hard on that. And given what we saw last summer and what we expect here, [there's] that ability now for keepers to do their work back to the quicks and do their work up to the quicks, and [we're] expecting that we're going to get a heavy amount of spin."
On the batting, Bailey pointed to the new role and mindset. "He has been batting pretty well with a different role and a slightly different mindset, which is certainly working. But his ability to come up with a pretty clear plan and be able to put pressure back on the opposition has been impressive over the last little bit."
Bailey did not close the door on Harper playing as a specialist batter, which Inglis has done in his five Tests. "I think there is [a chance he plays as a batter], but I don't know if he'd be the first."
One injury from the gloves
Inglis is back home in Western Australia and will have another scan on his finger in a week's time. A call will then be made on whether he returns ahead of the second Test in Gqeberha, which begins on 18 October.
The injury list on tour is growing. Cameron Green suffered an abdominal strain during the third ODI and is a doubt for Durban. South Africa have their own problems, with Tony de Zorzi ruled out of the opener with a hamstring injury. In practical terms, Harper is one injury to Alex Carey away from taking the gloves in a Test.
Why it matters
Harper's call-up shows how quickly a squad can change once injuries start. A player who was averaging 24.86 in first-class cricket in February is now the next keeper in line for Australia, and he got there by changing his role, adjusting his mindset and keeping the work behind the stumps going.
Build an XI with depth
Harper's story is the BuildXI lesson about depth and versatility. You spin eleven real IPL squads from 2008 to 2025, take one player from each, and play a full season with the XI you end up with. A keeper who can bat anywhere, or a batter who can slot into a new role, is the kind of pick that holds a draft together when plans change. The target is 14-0: fourteen league games, fourteen wins.