Simon Harmer provides update on Kagiso Rabada ahead of Australia Test: ‘Everybody wants him to play’

Kagiso Rabada‘s fitness remains one of the biggest talking points ahead of South Africa’s first Test against Australia at Kingsmead in Durban. With the match set to begin on Friday, the pacer is racing against time to recover from a hamstring injury and make himself available for the series opener.

South Africa spinner Simon Harmer provided an update on Rabada’s fitness on Wednesday but admitted that he was unsure whether the fast bowler would be fit enough to feature. Harmer revealed that everyone in the South African camp is hoping to see Rabada take the field but stressed that the team would not want to risk his long-term fitness.

“Everybody wants him to play. The spectators, us in the changeroom, the Australians. I don’t know exactly where he’s at,” Harmer was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

He added that a final decision on Rabada’s participation would be taken as close to the start of the match as possible.

“A decision will be made as close to the [start of the] game as possible. But he’s proved season-in, season-out that he’s a world-class player, and he’s only going to make our team better,” Harmer said.

“So I really hope he does get in for the first Test but there’s a lot of cricket this summer. We don’t want to risk short-term gain for long-term damage,” he added.

Rabada was not involved in the early part of South Africa’s training session at Kingsmead on Wednesday, spending the initial stages inside the players’ dining area. He eventually came out onto the field and went through a series of warm-up and stretching exercises.

The pacer later moved towards the western side of the square, where he initially stood behind the stumps at the non-striker’s end while watching his teammates bowl.

Rabada subsequently moved to another pitch, with Piet Botha closely monitoring his session. He initially bowled off a two-step run-up without completing his follow-through before gradually extending his run-up to nine paces.

The fast bowler delivered around 20 balls during the session and appeared to move comfortably. However, he will need to significantly increase his workload before he can be considered ready for a Test match.

South Africa have greater depth than in previous years

Harmer believes South Africa are now better equipped to cope with the absence of one of their leading players compared to previous generations.

The spinner, who made his Test debut against West Indies in 2015, has played 14 Tests for South Africa. His career was interrupted by a Kolpak stint before Keshav Maharaj established himself as the team’s premier spinner. Harmer eventually returned to the Test setup in 2022.

According to Harmer, the current South African side is built around collective contributions rather than dependence on a handful of individuals.

‘Now it’s a team effort’: Harmer on South Africa’s transformation

South Africa’s recent success has highlighted the change in the team’s mentality. The Proteas defeated Australia by five wickets in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June 2025 to win their first global title since 1998.

Reflecting on the difference between the current team and the South African sides of the past, Harmer credited the group’s unity and willingness to fight for each other.

“It’s a group of guys who always find a way to win. There’s a common purpose and everybody’s pulling in the same direction. It’s a very close group,” he said.

Harmer also highlighted the team’s ability to respond when matches move away from them.

“When things do start to go awry there’s a willingness to fight for your mate next to you, which has been amazing to see for me coming back in,” he added.

Comparing Test cricket to chess, Harmer said South Africa have become better at solving problems during difficult periods of a match.

“Test cricket is like chess. You’re going to have periods, sessions, hours when things don’t go your way. It’s about problem-solving and finding solution. That’s something this team has done exceptionally well in recent history,” Harmer explained.

Harmer also recalled the South African sides of the past, which featured several individual match-winners such as AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and Dale Steyn.

“I mean this in the most respectful way possible. You had big names: AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla, Dale Steyn. These guys could win games on their own and they did that for South Africa time and time again,” he said.

However, the current team has moved away from relying heavily on individual stars.

“Now it’s a team effort. It feels like every time we win it’s somebody else putting up their hand. There’s not this reliance on certain individuals,” Harmer concluded.

With Rabada’s availability still uncertain, South Africa will have to make a crucial call before the first Test. If the premier pacer is fit, his presence could significantly boost the Proteas against Australia. However, the hosts have enough depth to put up a strong fight even in his absence, setting up an intriguing XI-versus-XI battle at Kingsmead.