Rabada to play, South Africa look to 'get bloody better' in Australia Test series

South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said the Proteas’ 214-run loss to Australia in the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, was not a “calamity,” but insisted the team must “get bloody better” for the rest of the summer. Conrad warned against overreacting after South Africa’s first home Test since winning the World Test Championship last June, with Temba Bavuma in charge. Kagiso Rabada missed the opening match with a hamstring injury; Bavuma said he sat out as a precaution and is expected to play the second Test in Gqeberha from Sunday. With Rabada out, South Africa leaned on spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, but batting dependence on Bavuma and Aiden Markram was exposed. Conrad indicated uncapped Marques Ackerman could enter the XI, or they may look beyond the current squad for a middle-order batter.