The South African cricket board announced that fast bowler Kagiso Rabada will not play in the three game One Day International Series against Australia due to inflammation in his right ankle. Rabada suffered an injury and did not feel right leading into the ODI series, and less than an hour prior to the commencement of the series in Cairns on August 19th, 2025, the announcement came down following Rabada’s discomfort and decision to have medical scans done on August 18th. Those scans showed that the inflammation was there, and team management and medical staff agreed to err on the side of caution with Rabada.
Although he will not be part of the series, he will remain in Australia to recover and rehab with South Africa’s medical staff in the hopes of having Rabada return to full fitness for future ODIs. South Africa has a full international schedule over the next couple of months including two major ICC tournaments and bilateral series. Rabada was consistent in recent months as a Proteas and an important leader as the figurehead of the fast-bowling unit.
South Africa has called up Kwena Maphaka, the left-arm fast bowler, to the squad as a replacement for Rabada. Maphaka was the highest wicket-taker in the T20I series against Australia and made an impression, bowling at a fast, aggressive pace. He was in the squad for the first ODI against Australia, but did not play, but now South Africa has a new excellent choice for the ODIs, especially because his natural abilities with a new ball are his ability to bowl quick and use the swing. Maphaka is also only 19 years old, part of a new generation and group of young, developing players for the South African cricket landscape.
The timing of Rabada’s injury is unfortunate, given the strength of the Australia batting lineup and the fact that the series is played in Australia. The South African pace bowling attack will rely on Ngidi, Coetzee, and Jansen to shoulder Rabada’s duties as a strike bowler and the responsibility of Rabada’s experience, as this is a tough team to bowl to. Management expressed some confidence in the depth in the squad, but the omission of a senior experienced player can only impact team selection and tactical balance.
Moving through the series, it will be interesting to see how the Proteas respond to this setback and will Maphaka get his chance to make his ODI debut. Rabada’s recovery will also need to be monitored with the hope he’ll be fit for upcoming international fixtures at the highest level.
