Proteas' walking wounded quicks find unlikely ally in Test rival

South Africa's walking wounded pace brigade has found an unlikely ally in an adversary with Josh Hazlewood expressing his hope that injured quicks Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi will be fit for next month's Test series.

That pair, along with three more Proteas quicks in Ottneil Baartman, Lutho Sipamla and Nandré Burger, are all injured for next week's ODIs against Australia which serve as a curtain-raiser to the three Tests in Durban, Gqeberha and Cape Town.

All of those bowlers have suffered hamstring injuries except for Burger, who has a back injury. Both Ngidi and Baartman were injured in the opening round of the South African first-class season, while Rabada was hurt during winter training.

Australia have put considerable thought into how they will avoid similar types of injuries to their ageing group of Test bowlers. 

A video of Rabada back bowling off a short run in an indoor net was circulating this week, giving hope to South Africa fans their spearhead could play some part in their first Tests since their World Test Championship final win over the Aussies last year.

Hazlewood, who missed all of last summer's Ashes with hamstring and ankle issues, conceded the series would be better for the involvement of both Rabada and Ngidi.

"It is a shame to hear that," the 35-year-old told cricket.com.au after learning Ngidi had been ruled out of the ODIs. "I know what that entails over the next month, two months for those guys.

"It's no good being in the gym, in the physio room doing that rehab when you know you can be out there in a big spectacle and have two good teams going at it.

"I think I heard Rabada was bowling the other day again so he mightn't be far away. So we'll see what we come up against on day one.

"I think deep down you want to play the best team. But (Rabada) is a class act, so it wouldn't be the worst if he's not there for all three (Tests)!"

The Aussies have an injury concern of their own after Friday's second ODI against Zimbabwe with Billy Stanlake suffering a side strain in the 84-run win.

Stanlake looks unlikely to now feature in either Sunday's third ODI in Harare nor in the 50-over matches in South Africa. It is also a blow for his longer-term push to prove his Test credentials having impressed the Australian group with his red-ball skills in recent times and been touted by selection chief George Bailey as a long-form prospect.

"He's never done a side strain before, so he was unaware and sort of gave it another go, and then obviously you know (of the injury) with that second ball," said Hazlewood who had spoken to Stanlake before he trudged off the ground mid-over during Zimbabwe's innings.

"So frustrating for him. He had a pretty good run of late. So hopefully that's not too bad, and he can get back on the park soon because he showed in that first spell that he's bowling pretty well.

"He's been through a tough run probably throughout his whole career. I'm no stranger to injury, so I know the feeling, and it's a bit of a sour note."

Stanlake's absence could be off-set by the mooted return of Cameron Green, who has been sidelined with a sore shoulder but was batting in the nets on Friday and completed vigorous running drills the previous day at training.

Australia have insisted Green has no structural damage to his right shoulder, and that they are taking a cautious approach with their allrounder who was their best bat in their most recent Test series against Bangladesh.  

Hazlewood also expressed his desire to play the third ODI against Zimbabwe as part of his build-up to the Tests having missed the series opener. He will be joined in South Africa next week by Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who were expected to fly out this weekend.

That trio have made it clear their focus is firmly on the Test series between the format's last two champions.

"You know it's going to be proper hard cricket – they got us in the WTC (final) not long ago," said Hazlewood.

"I think anytime you turn up to, whether it's England, India, New Zealand, or probably South Africa, it's going to be full on, and it's going to be good cricket.

"So everyone's looking forward to it. We've obviously got a few more games to go now, to get miles in the legs and get a few victories, and then head off for the Test series."

Before Stanlake, Australia's main fast-bowling injury concern had been Michael Neser, who was named in the Test squad for South Africa in the expectation he would recover from a calf injury in time for the series.

Qantas tour of Zimbabwe 2026

All matches broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 59 runs

Second ODI: Australia beat Zimbabwe by 84 runs

Third ODI: September 20, Harare Sports Club, 5:30pm AEST (9:30am local)

Zimbabwe squad: Sikandar Raza (c), Ben Curran, Blessing Muzarabani, Brad Evans, Brendan Taylor, Brian Bennett, Craig Ervine, Ernest Masuku, Graeme Cremer, Innocent Kaia, Newman Nyamhuri, Ryan Burl, Tadiwanashe Marumani, Wellington Masakadza, Wessly Madhevere

Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs

Australia ODI squad: Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 6pm AEST (10am local)

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster