Tony de Zorzi ruled out of first Test against Australia with hamstring injury

South Africa opener Tony de Zorzi will miss the first Test against Australia after picking up a hamstring injury during the third ODI at Potchefstroom. The match at Kingsmead, Durban, is scheduled to begin on October 9, 2026.

Cricket South Africa classified the injury as mild in an official statement, though it is serious enough to keep De Zorzi out of the series opener entirely. CSA has chosen to retain its extended 18-player preliminary squad without calling in a direct replacement, with the final 15-man group expected to be confirmed early next week.

De Zorzi is the fifth South African player to suffer a hamstring problem over the past two months, following Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Kwena Maphaka. Marques Ackerman could make his Test debut if de Zorzi remains unavailable.