South Africa vs Australia 1st Test: Australia bat in Durban as Nic Maddinson returns after a decade

South Africa vs Australia is under way at Kingsmead in Durban, and Nic Maddinson is back in Test cricket after almost ten years. Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and chose to bat on Friday 9 October, with Maddinson, 34, opening alongside Travis Head, ESPNcricinfo reported. Play began on Friday morning in Durban, early afternoon in Pakistan, and Australia were 8 for no wicket after three overs.

Who is Nic Maddinson, and why is his return news?

Maddinson played all three of his previous Tests in late 2016, including one against Pakistan in Brisbane that December. He was treated for testicular cancer last year and was picked for this tour despite not having played first-class cricket since March 2025. The question before the match, ESPNcricinfo wrote on Thursday, was whether Australia would pick him or spin-bowling allrounder Cooper Connolly. Connolly settled it by leaving the final training session with symptoms of a head cold.

Australia are also without allrounder Cameron Green, who has an abdominal strain from the ODI series; he is staying in South Africa in the hope of playing later in the series.

South Africa vs Australia: the XIs

Australia: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje.

South Africa named their side a day early. With Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi injured, fast bowler Anrich Nortje returns to Tests after three and a half years, and off-spinner Simon Harmer partners Keshav Maharaj. David Bedingham bats at No. 3 for the first time in Tests.

The first Test series in South Africa since Sandpapergate

This is the first Test series between the two sides in South Africa since 2018, when the ball-tampering scandal known as Sandpapergate rocked Australian cricket. Steven Smith, captain on that tour, bats at No. 4 in Durban.

The form book favours the hosts: South Africa have won 13 of their last 14 Tests, including the World Test Championship final against Australia at Lord's, though they have not played a Test since November 2025. Australia, for their part, have won their last three Tests at Kingsmead.

Pakistan's cricket today

Pakistan's own home season starts with the Sri Lanka T20Is tonight at 6pm, with ODIs and Tests to follow. Live scores from Durban, Abu Dhabi and Rawalpindi are in our cricket match centre.