Sports · Cricket · 1 hr ago
South Africa coach urges improvement after 214-run loss to Australia
Australia beat South Africa by 214 runs in the first Test at Kingsmead in Durban.
The defeat ended South Africa’s run of 15 Tests without a loss.
Coach Shukri Conrad ruled out drastic changes, saying one defeat was not a reason to question everything the team had done well.
He said the batting was the main concern, with many dismissals caused by mental rather than technical or tactical problems.
South Africa were bowled out for 206 in their second innings after resisting for almost two hours on the final day; Aiden Markram was the only South African to score more than 50 in the match.
Fast bowler Kagiso Rabada could return after a hamstring injury, and changes to the batting order are also possible.
South Africa face Australia in the second Test on Sunday at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, aiming to level the three-match series.
South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said his team must improve after losing the first Test to Australia by 214 runs.
Conrad ruled out drastic changes but said selection and batting-order changes remained possible.
He said South Africa’s batting was the area where the team had let itself down most.
Australia bowled South Africa out for 206 in the second innings as the hosts tried to save the Test.
The defeat ended South Africa’s run of 15 Tests without a loss.
- Who
- South Africa and Australia, with South Africa coach Shukri Conrad addressing his team’s defeat.
- What
- Australia beat South Africa by 214 runs in the first Test.
- When
- South Africa lost on Tuesday, October 13, 2026; Conrad spoke on Wednesday.
- Where
- Kingsmead in Durban, South Africa.
- Why
- South Africa were beaten after struggling with the bat; Conrad said the team needed to improve.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Australia defeated South Africa by 214 runs in the first Test at Kingsmead.
Conrad said the team needed to improve and ruled out drastic changes.
The second Test was scheduled to begin at St George’s Park in Gqeberha.
- Defeat margin
- 214 runs
- First Test venue
- Kingsmead, Durban
- South Africa coach
- Shukri Conrad
- South Africa second innings
- 206 all out
- Unbeaten Test run ended
- 15 Tests
3 sources
What people are saying
We just need to get bloody better
We need to show composure
We keep talking about the batting because that's where we felt we let ourselves down the most