South Africa vs Australia: Hosts welcome ​back paceman Kagiso Rabada for his first outing since IPL

The hosts suffered a 214-run defeat to Australia in the first Test that ended in Durban ​on Tuesday , a setback that left their status as world Test champions looking increasingly fragile.

South Africa secured a dramatic five-wicket victory over Australia to win the World Test Championship last year ​at Lord's in London, but their qualification for the final prompted debate.

They played fewer Tests than the likes of England and India and faced what was widely regarded as an ​easier schedule in the qualifying period.

Their winning form leading up to the ⁠WTC final also masked some poor batting performances, ⁠which coach Shukri Conrad acknowledged finally caught up with them against Australia at Kingsmead, where they looked anything but world champions.

"We've been ‌heavily reliant on (captain) Temba (Bavuma) and (opener) Aiden Markram and then the lower order runs," he said after Australia exposed their batting fragility.

Several changes are expected for the second Test where Matthew Breetzke is ‌set to be given a renewed chance to open alongside Markram.

Ryan Rickelton is primed to take over as wicketkeeper from Kyle Verreynne but move down the order.

Tristan Stubbs, who batted at number five for the first Test, has been omitted, which could open the door for Marques Ackerman ⁠to make his Test debut.

South Africa will welcome ​back paceman Kagiso Rabada for his first outing since the Indian ​Premier League in May, placing considerable expectation on his shoulders despite his lengthy ​absence. That means they will drop one spinner.

Australia's selection is also keenly anticipated but ⁠with Cameron Green's return from injury likely delayed, they might resist the temptation to make any changes after such an emphatic win.

One possibility, however, is that Scott Boland is brought into the attack as ⁠Australia monitor the workloads of Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood ​and Mitchell Starc after all three bowled at least 29 overs in the first ​Test.

Persistent rain and damp conditions are forecast for Gqeberha, particularly on the opening two days, which raises the prospect of delays or a shortened ‌match at St George's Park.

South Africa XI (possible): Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee.

Australia XI (possible): Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Hazlewood says reverse swing may be a factor

Australia fast bowler Josh Hazlewood predicts reverse swing may be crucial to the outcome of the ‌three-Test series, where abrasive pitches are helping revive a fading art.

The art of reverse swing has faded in recent years with greener wickets and lusher outfields keeping the ​ball newer and less likely to rough up.

"The ball still looks new late in the innings if it gets that far," said Hazlewood about playing back home ​in Australia, but it is a different story on tour ⁠in South Africa.

"It's abrasive wickets. It's very ⁠hard underfoot," he explained.

"We probably got a hint of swing in the first innings and then as the game goes it ‌just deteriorates more and you get a bit more. So we knew it was crucial," he said of their success in Durban, where he returned carer-best figures of ‌6-49 in the last innings to secure Australia's triumph.

"If the wicket is hard, firm, deteriorating and not much seam movement, you're probably going to get that reverse swing," Hazlewood told a pitch-side press conference on Friday as Australia prepared for Sunday.

"You probably want ⁠the ball a bit harder and a little bit of ​reverse swing rather than a lot of reverse swing and ​the ball's soft. That's much easier to navigate as a batsman," he ​added.

Hazlewood, now 35, produced his performance in Durban after missing all of last ⁠season's Ashes series through injury.

"I just play every Test match that comes," he said of his longevity. "Could be your last one whenever. I don't think about it much.

"I think you ⁠know it was great fun last week playing ​with the same guys. Doing the work in the last innings and ​taking the 20 wickets for the game on what was a pretty flat wicket for the majority. I don't look too ‌far ahead these days."

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