South Africa will be without Kagiso Rabada for the first Test against Australia in Durban. Captain Temba Bavuma said the team took the conservative route on his fitness.

The first Test runs from October 9 to 13 at Kingsmead. South Africa beat Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s last year.

Rabada was included in the preliminary squad despite a hamstring injury. Fellow seamers Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka and Lungi Ngidi were all ruled out with hamstring problems.

South Africa named two spinners for the slowish Durban pitch. Simon Harmer joins Keshav Maharaj in the XI. Anrich Nortje returns to lead the pace attack.

Australia will miss Cameron Green, who is out with an abdominal injury. Josh Inglis is out with a broken finger. The series also covers Tests in Gqeberha and Cape Town. Pat Cummins will lead Australia. Both teams last met in Tests at the Lord’s final, where South Africa won by five wickets to lift the trophy.