Josh Inglis is expected to join the Australia Test team before the second match against South Africa at Gqeberha, which is set for October 18–22, 2026. This is because he is still healing from a broken finger. The wicketkeeper-batsman got hurt in the first ODI in Durban in late September 2026 and couldn’t play in the rest of the one-day series.
Josh Inglis no longer needs surgery because the results of a recent scan were good. The player’s finger health in the days before the game will still decide if he can be picked for the Gqeberha Test. It’s interesting that he hasn’t played behind the stumps in any of his five Test matches so far; he’s mostly been a batsman.
Australia made up for his absence by adding two people to their travelling party. Nic Maddinson was called in to help with batting, and Harper was brought in from Australia A’s job in India to fill in as backup wicketkeeper. From October 9–13, 2026, the first Test was held in Durban.
How did Australia deal with Josh Inglis not being able to play in the first Test in Durban?
Australia changed their batting order and used both cover players in the first game of the series since Josh Inglis wasn’t available. Maddinson was picked to start the game. It was his first time playing in a first-class match since March 2025.
He was out after 33 balls, which is the longest duck by an Australian starter in Test cricket history. When Matt Renshaw was moved to No. 5, he started to stabilise the innings and helped Australia come back from being 84 for 4 and then again from being 124 for 6.
What is the most up-to-date information on Cameron Green’s fitness before the Gqeberha Test?
Josh Inglis isn’t the only Australian who has been hurt. Cameron Green couldn’t play in the Durban Test because he hurt his stomach in the last ODI in Potchefstroom. He might be able to play in the second game, but that is still not clear.
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Head coach Andrew McDonald said it was unlikely that Green would play as an all-rounder for the whole series. Maddinson’s continued presence on the team serves two purposes: it provides hitting cover in case Green’s recovery is pushed back to later in the tour; and it also helps the team win games.
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