Cricket 2026: Australia vs South Africa Test series, Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis in No.3 mix, Kagiso Rabada injury update, South Africa cricket injury updates, news
Zimbabwe v Australia 3rd ODI Highlights | 15:37
Josh Higgins from Fox SportsSeptember 22nd, 2026 3:16 pm
Andrew McDonald has revealed two in-form ODI batters are in the mix to bat at No.3 for Australia during its first Test tour of South Africa since Sandpapergate.
Meanwhile, the Proteas have received a promising update on star quick Kagiso Rabada as injuries test their pace stocks and a new bowling leader prepares to step up.
All of this and more in the latest edition of Cricket Daily.
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IN-FORM ODI BATTERS IN THE MIX FOR AUSTRALIA
Cooper Connolly and Josh Inglis have drawn attention following their impressive ODI series against Zimbabwe.
Connolly was named player of the series, while Inglis finished off the series with a 103-run knock in the third and final game.
It comes as Australian coach Andrew McDonald opened up on the upcoming Test series against South Africa, with Connolly and Inglis both in the mix at No.3, a position held by Marnus Labuschagne for the majority of his Test career.
“We’re open minded to that, definitely. Some of our best openers have gone from five to opening,” McDonald said.
“Travis went from five to opening, and ‘Uzzie’ went from five to opening. I think it’s all about timing and how prepared they are for that.
“‘Coop’ hasn’t played a lot of first-class cricket, so his experiences are quite narrow.
“He’s played a lot of white-ball cricket in recent times. Can that translate into being a top order option? Or is he better suited through the middle?”
For Inglis, the belief is also there from McDonald, with the ODI keeper around the mark in recent years.
“Josh Inglis has been the reserve batter for a long period of time, and people have debated whether he could have opened (when a vacancy arose in 2024-25). We think he’s got the skillset to potentially bat anywhere in that order.
“So, we feel as though we’ve got two good options… (and) if anything were to move, we’ve got players that are up and running in the Australia A squad in India.”
Inglis hits ton as Aussies beat Zimbabwe | 01:26
With Australia’s batting order struggling for consistency recently, much has been made of possible changes ahead of the South Africa series.
For McDonald, those conversations are nothing new.
“It’s not a checkpoint where you go, ‘Oh, suddenly we need to talk about the batting order’ … those conversations are always happening,” McDonald said.
“At this stage, we haven’t felt the need to change too much of that in terms of the batting order and line-up.”
Labuschagne made scores of one and 31 in the first Test against Bangladesh before managing just four runs in the second, where Australia only batted once.
McDonald has also tipped Travis Head to remain as Australia’s opener despite his recent international innings.
“The Travis Head one is interesting. He’s done well opening,” McDonald said.
“Do you move the part that’s been incredibly successful across the last 12 months? It’s a question that we will ask ourselves.
“But as it sits at the moment, I’d say we’re pretty comfortable with him opening and the way he’s gone about it.”
Following the ODI series, both Connolly and Inglis spoke about the possibility of returning to Test cricket against South Africa.
Connolly wasn’t worried about where he would come in if called up, adding: “Whether that’s at three or it’s in the middle order.”
And for Inglis, the opportunity to play is simply more important than the position.
“I’ll bat wherever they ask me to if it gets me a game.”
Australia will have some tough calls to make ahead of the upcoming series, but the pair who impressed during the ODI series against Zimbabwe are firmly in the mix for a Test recall.
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RABADA RETURN HOPE AS PROTEAS’ PACE STOCKS TESTED
In the lead-up to the three-Test series against Australia, Kagiso Rabada has remained a question.
The South African quick is dealing with a right hamstring injury, sustained during training in mid-August.
It has already ruled him out of the ODI series against Australia, but head coach Shukri Conrad has provided an update ahead of the Test series.
“It’s going quite nicely, the rehab and the programs that he’s on,” Conrad said.
“I’d be very surprised if we didn’t see him during the Test series.
“He’s such a huge player for us, but he seems to reserve his best for Australia. So, I’m pretty confident that we’ll see KG (Rabada).
“There’s still a little bit of work to be done.”
Whilst the injury and rehab are progressing well, the timeline and return date are not expected to be known until closer to the series.
Conrad also referred to Rabada as a “real specimen” because of his ability to recover quicker than most.
“I think we’ll obviously have a really good idea close this week sometime, when he’ll have had a few weeks of intensive treatment. By all accounts, things are looking really good,” Conrad said.
“But KG is an absolute superstar.
“He’s a real specimen and he tends to recover quicker than the rest do.
“I’m very optimistic but I’m led by the medical team, so my optimism counts for nought when it comes to medical.”
Rabada, 31, is one of the best fast bowlers in the world.
In his 73 Test matches he has 340 wickets and best innings figures of 7/112.
Against Australia across his career, he has also been strong, with 58 wickets across 11 matches and best innings figures of 6/54, which he collected back in 2018.
In the World Test Championship final against Australia last year, he collected nine wickets as the Proteas secured a five-wicket victory.
Alongside Rabada, Lungi Ngidi will also miss the entire ODI series with a right hamstring injury, with his availability for the Test series still in question.
That leaves Marco Jansen as the most experienced available seamer for the ODI series, and he has spoken about needing to take on more of a leadership role.
“It feels like I’m going to have to take that leadership role,” Jansen said.
“I have to try and lead from the front. It’s probably going to be my first time taking up such a role so I’m quite excited for that.”
And Jansen revealed he will lean on what he has learned from Rabada and Ngidi when taking on the added responsibility.
“Leadership, and I’m only basing it off of playing with KG and Lungi and all those guys, is that when things go sideways or when things are tough, especially in the field, you have to have a way of calming things down and slowing things down.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au
