South Africa Drop Stubbs, Rickelton to keep wickets in Gqeberha Test

Before the second Test against Australia in Gqeberha, Tristan Stubbs has been removed from the South African team. After scoring 32 and 1 in Durban, Stubbs was South Africa's only casualty in the first Test defeat, despite scoring 94 in his 11-month-old Test debut in India. In his place, Matthew Breetzke has joined the team.

Breetzke has played two Tests for South Africa, in Bangladesh in October 2024 and Zimbabwe in July 2025, with 14 runs to his name, and has a first-class average of 37.03. He last played a first-class match in February, and missed this season's domestic games as he was with South Africa's limited-overs squads in Namibia and then against Australia. He scored a century in the first ODI in Durban, and South Africa's management are hopeful his form will cross formats.

The head coach of South Africa, Shukri Conrad, stated, "Matt has been part of the squad before." "The fact that his ODI form is as hot as it is gave him an inside lane and more importantly, it's the attitude and the character Matt brings and has."

The batting order will almost certainly change as a result of Breetzke's inclusion, and Conrad also confirmed that Ryan Rickelton will wear the keeping gloves. That means Kyle Verreynne, who has not scored a Test fifty in his last 13 innings, is unlikely to make the starting XI though he remains with the squad. Sinethamba Qeshile, South Africa's other wicketkeeping option, injured his hamstring in a domestic T20 match for the Titans against the Tuskers on Tuesday.

South Africa still need to decide whether Rickelton will move down the order, which means they will then need to find an opener to partner Aiden Markram, or continue at the top along with his keeping role.

Conrad stated, "With Ricks taking the gloves, there are decisions to be made over whether he does move down the order or whether he can continue to open the batting, which he has done in the past." Ricks has previously opened the batting.

In the previous World Test Championship cycle (2023–25), South Africa's most frequent opening partner for Markram, Tony de Zorzi, could not be considered for selection because he is still recovering from a hamstring injury. This could mean that Breetzke bats first, or it could be given to Marques Ackerman, an uncapped batter who usually bats middle. Conrad stated, "There are a few things to consider before we look at the final XI, but we are absolutely excited." "But we have had the opportunity to lick our wounds and turn this ship in the right direction."

The remaining 17 players remain unchanged from the Durban squad, with Kagiso Rabada expected to be fit to play after missing that Test due to a hamstring injury. Rabada is one of seven quicks in the squad, who will all remain together as their bowling loads are monitored.

That means South Africa can also choose from Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Wiaan Mulder, Gerald Coetzee, Dane Paterson and Corbin Bosch, and Conrad indicated the weather could play a role in their final selection. On Sunday, the first day of the match, heavy rain is expected, which could delay play.

Keshav Maharaj, Simon Harmer, and Senuran Muthusamy are the three spinners that South Africa has retained, but it is likely that only one will play. Durban featured both Harmer and Maharaj.

South Africa squad for second Test vs Australia

Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.