Head, Proteas spin pair set sights on turning Kingsmead track

Travis Head and Simon Harmer are preparing for spin to play a big role in the opening Test of the series at Kingsmead.

South Africa's slow bowlers Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin spun the hosts to victory over Australia during last month's ODI at the venue, and the left-arm orthodox Maharaj is likely to be partnered by off-spinner Harmer for the first Test.

In what was potentially an insight into the Proteas' selection plans, Harmer was the nominated player to speak to the media two days out from the game.  

Grey clouds hung overhead at Australia's optional training session on Wednesday morning, as Head and several other players donned woollen vests with the warmth from earlier in the week suddenly noticeably absent.

Rain in Durban in October is common. Test cricket is not. In the 103-year history of Kingsmead Stadium, this clash will be the first Test to be played in October.

There was moisture in the air but it may not be reflected in the pitch, with Head among the many to ponder what the sides will be faced with on Friday, and suggesting that spin could "definitely" be a more threatening proposition than pace.  

"We've seen in the one-dayers, the wickets were on the drier side of things," he said. "The time of year that we're here now, the wickets probably haven't hit the summer yet and they may not be as fast as what we think they may be.

"They may be on the slower side. They may spin a little bit more."

The 37-year-old Harmer is still relatively young in Test experience, with only 14 South African caps to his name. The offie played several seasons on a Kolpak county deal for Essex, excluding him from national selection, but those rules were relaxed when England left the European Union in 2020.

While Harmer has traditionally been picked in Asian conditions as a foil for Maharaj, three of his Tests have been on home soil, including a 2022 clash against Bangladesh in Durban where he took seven wickets for the match.

"As a spinner, I obviously hope it turns, but the general rule of thumb is that the coastal wickets do offer a bit more for spinners," Harmer said.

Kingsmead Stadium sits only one kilometre from the 'Golden Mile', a beachfront promenade that lines the Indian Ocean.

And the practice wickets certainly offered plenty of purchase for the spinners, with Head having a short stint with the ball to allrounder Beau Webster during Wednesday's session after admitting he had been "reluctantly" practicing his off-spin in case they are presented with a raging turner.

The Aussie opener pointed to the home side's 18-player squad to indicate there were plenty of unknowns for both sides.

"They've got all bases covered," he said.

Would Australia flirt with a spin-heavy bowling attack?

"(Conditions) would have to be quite compelling for us to shift into two spinners," coach Andrew McDonald said on Tuesday.

Should they need support for Nathan Lyon, Australia could in fact potentially have another three off-spin options in Head, Webster and Matt Renshaw, while Marnus Labuschagne's leg-spin and Cooper Connolly's left-arm orthodox might also be on the table.  

For the Proteas, Harmer complements Maharaj nicely, with the stock balls of each spinner turning opposite ways.

And the veteran explained that he will feel as confident turning the ball into Australia's right-handers as he is turning the ball away from the left-handers.

"A lot of the time the turn is from outside of the stumps and the best part of the wicket (to bat) is stump to stump," Harmer said.

"If the wicket is good, which it should be, you could potentially see that it's actually Keshav who is more threatening against the left-handed batters and myself to right-handed batters."  

If Durban is dry and the hosts do play their spin duo, Head may be facing spin earlier in his innings than first planned.

The 32-year-old has had some success as an opener on sharp-turning, subcontinental pitches, by taking an ultra-aggressive approach, spanning back to Indore in 2023 (49no off 53) or Galle in 2025 (57 off 40).

It's a tactic that remains front-of-mind for the all-format star.

"You always go back into and what you've done in the past and what's worked and what hasn't worked," Head said.

"You're trying to best come up with a blueprint of how to balance that, whether that be in India, Sri Lanka or Australia."

"That's always the nice thing about having a long career … You get to lean back on all those (experiences) and try and use them at the right time."

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

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

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)

South Africa's first Test preliminary squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

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