Dean Elgar’s side will play Australia in a Test series for the first time since their infamous 2018 series. The Proteas have not toured Australia since 2017 and come into the series off the back of a series defeat to England. Australia last played Test cricket in July, where they drew with Sri Lanka 1-1 in the two match series, winning the first Test by ten wickets thanks to Nathan Lyon’s nine wickets in the match.

Both sides sit in the top two positions in the ICC World Test Championship table, with Australia currently in the top spot having lost only one of their ten matches.

South Africa Test squad: Bavuma, van der Dussen fit, Rickleton & Petersen absent

South Africa have named a 16-man squad for the series, including Rassie van der Dussen and Temba Bavuma who had been injury doubts for ahead of the first Test in Brisbane.

Gerald Coetzee has also earned his first Test call up and could make his debut after a successful red ball season four the knights in South Africa’s franchise domestic four day league. The 22-year-old pacer made his first-class-debut in 2019 and has picked up 40 wickets in his 13 first-class appearances so far.

Theunis de Bruyn has also been re-called to the squad. The middle-order batter last played a Test match in 2019 and has a Test hundred to his name. Keshav Maharaj is fully fit after recovering from a groin injury during the 2022 T20 World Cup, but wicket-keeper Ryan Rickleton misses out with an ankle injury, replaced in the squad by Heinrich Klaasen. Keegan Petersen is also out with a hamstring injury.

South Africa Test squad for 2022 Australia tour

Dean Elgar (c), Temba Bavuma, Gerald Coetzee, Theunis de Bruyn, Sarel Erwee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Glenton Stuurman, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Khaya Zondo