South Africa and Australia began their first Test at Kingsmead, Durban on Friday, a rematch of last year’s World Test Championship final. South Africa won that final at Lord’s by five wickets.

The hosts are without star fast bowler Kagiso Rabada. Their XI is Markram, Rickelton, Bedingham, Bavuma (captain), Stubbs, Mulder, Verreynne, Jansen, Harmer, Maharaj and Nortje. Captain Temba Bavuma said resting Rabada was “not an easy decision.”

Australia are missing Cameron Green with an abdominal injury and Josh Inglis with a broken finger. Their likely XI includes Head, Smith, Labuschagne, Cummins (captain), Starc, Lyon and Hazlewood.

The match starts at 9:30 AM local time (1 PM IST) and runs to October 13. Kingsmead is expected to offer a slowish pitch that turns as the match wears on.

The series also counts toward the new World Test Championship cycle. South Africa’s remaining seamers — Jansen, Nortje and Mulder — will shoulder the load on a Kingsmead surface expected to assist spin late in the match.