Nortje's Test return after 3 years: 2 wickets on debut day at Kingsmead
Synopsis
After three years away from red-ball cricket and a broken toe that almost ended his comeback before it began, Anrich Nortje finally wore the Test whites again at Kingsmead — and made it count with two wickets in an over. South Africa have Australia wobbling at 187/6, with Nortje's hunger for the 'hard graft' of Test cricket looking very much intact.
Key Takeaways
Anrich Nortje returned to Test cricket for South Africa on 10 October 2026 at Kingsmead, Durban — his first red-ball appearance since 2023 .
Nortje dismissed Alex Carey (14) and Beau Webster (4) in the same over, reducing Australia to 124/6 .
South Africa closed day one with Australia at 187/6 , before rain and bad light halted play.
Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen also took two wickets each , with Jansen removing Nic Maddinson and Steve Smith .
Matt Renshaw (46*) and captain Pat Cummins (33*) shared an unbeaten 63-run stand to leave the match evenly balanced.
Nortje's comeback was delayed by repeated fitness setbacks, including a broken toe sustained during ODI series preparation against Pakistan .
South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje marked a long-awaited return to Test cricket on 10 October 2026 at Kingsmead, Durban, claiming two wickets on the opening day of the first Test against Australia — his first red-ball appearance for the Proteas in over three years. Nortje, who last featured in a Test for South Africa against the West Indies in Centurion in 2023, described the longest format as 'the best format there is' after making an immediate impression.
Nortje's Opening-Day Impact
The right-arm pacer delivered a telling blow in a single over, removing wicketkeeper Alex Carey for 14 and lower-order bat Beau Webster for 4, reducing Australia to 124/6. South Africa eventually restricted the visitors to 187/6 before bad light and rain ended play early on day one. Nortje was one of three Proteas bowlers to finish with two wickets each, alongside Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen. Mulder accounted for Travis Head, while Jansen dismissed both Nic Maddinson and Steve Smith.
A Return Marked by Near-Misses
Nortje's path back to Test cricket was anything but smooth. A succession of fitness setbacks repeatedly delayed his red-ball comeback. The closest he came, he recalled, was during a home ODI series against Pakistan — only for a broken toe, sustained in the nets when a teammate was throwing reverse-swing deliveries, to rule him out. 'The closest I got was, I think, Pakistan at home. Broke my toe in the ODIs when David was throwing reverse swing balls to me in the nets. So, yeah, it came close in the past,' Nortje said. His absence from Tests since 2023 was shaped by a combination of injury and poor timing rather than any loss of form or appetite for the game.
What Nortje Said About the Format
Nortje was candid about both his relief at finally returning and his enduring love for the longest format. 'It's nice to finally, sort of, get it to work out and to be on the park, to play for the country again, especially wearing the baggy. It's a bit worn out just from laying at home,' he said. He singled out the physical and mental demands of extended bowling spells as what he relishes most. 'I enjoy the hard graft. I've always said it, that the second, third, maybe the fourth spell is the sort of point in the game that I enjoy the most, where you have to try and dig deep and try and get something out for the team,' Nortje noted. 'It's probably the best format there is. So, yeah, it's nice to be here again.'
Match Position Heading Into Day Two
Despite South Africa's strong showing with the ball, Australia steadied through an unbeaten 63-run seventh-wicket partnership between Matt Renshaw (46 not out) and captain Pat Cummins (33 not out), leaving the contest finely poised at the close. The first Test at Kingsmead promises to be closely fought, with South Africa's pace battery — led by a rejuvenated Nortje — likely to have a significant say over the remaining days.
Point of View
Third, fourth spell' is precisely the mentality that separates Test-quality pace from white-ball specialists. The bigger question is durability: South Africa have seen Nortje miss enough red-ball cricket to know that managing his workload across this series will matter as much as his wicket tally on day one. If he stays fit, Australia's middle order faces a genuine threat in the remaining Tests.
NationPress
10 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Anrich Nortje last play Test cricket before this match?
Nortje last played Test cricket for South Africa against the West Indies in Centurion in 2023, making his first-Test appearance at Kingsmead in October 2026 his first in over three years. His prolonged absence was due to fitness issues and repeated missed opportunities.
How did Nortje perform on day one of the first Test against Australia?
Nortje claimed two wickets in a single over, dismissing Alex Carey for 14 and Beau Webster for 4, reducing Australia to 124/6. South Africa eventually restricted Australia to 187/6 before rain and bad light ended the day's play early.
What injury had previously derailed Nortje's Test comeback?
Nortje broke his toe during a home ODI series against Pakistan while a teammate was throwing reverse-swing deliveries in the nets, which ruled him out of a planned Test return. He cited that as the closest he had come to returning before the Kingsmead match.
What is the match situation heading into day two at Kingsmead?
Australia closed day one at 187/6, with Matt Renshaw (46 not out) and captain Pat Cummins (33 not out) sharing an unbeaten 63-run seventh-wicket stand to stabilise the innings. The match is evenly poised ahead of day two.
Which other South African bowlers took wickets on day one?
Wiaan Mulder and Marco Jansen each claimed two wickets alongside Nortje. Mulder removed Travis Head, while Jansen dismissed Nic Maddinson and Steve Smith to keep Australia under pressure throughout the day.
