Last verified: November 14, 2026, 10:06 a.m. South Africa Standard Time (SAST, UTC+02:00); 08:06 UTC.
South Africa and Bangladesh remain scheduled to begin their first men’s Test on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at DP World Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The opening day is due to start at 10:00 a.m. Johannesburg time (SAST, UTC+02:00), or 08:00 UTC, with the match scheduled through November 19. A key selection clarification ahead of the game is that South Africa fast bowler Anrich Nortje, although named in the squad, is unlikely to play the first Test as he continues his comeback from a groin injury, according to coach Shukri Conrad.
Conrad has indicated Nortje could be available for the second Test in Centurion beginning November 23. He also confirmed South Africa intend to field a spinner at the Wanderers and said the No. 3 batting position remains a choice between Tony de Zorzi and Zubayr Hamza. Neither a final playing XI nor a toss result was confirmed in the match center at the time of this check. These are pre-match developments, not a match-day result.
Conrad’s November 13 comments materially narrow the selection picture. Nortje returned to training after the groin problem sustained during the Australia series, but the coach said the first Bangladesh Test would probably arrive too early. Nortje’s inclusion in the squad should therefore not be mistaken for confirmation that he will be in the starting XI. Conrad expects him to be considered for the Centurion Test if his recovery continues. The update was published by the ICC’s November 13 team update.
South Africa still have several seam options in Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Dane Paterson, Wiaan Mulder and Corbin Bosch. Conrad also ruled out an all-seam attack for the Johannesburg opener, making specialist spin an important selection consideration. Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer are both in the squad, but which spinner starts remains unconfirmed. At No. 3, Conrad is considering de Zorzi and Hamza after David Bedingham was left out. Naming either batter as confirmed would go beyond the evidence currently available.
The 15-player group is led by Temba Bavuma and includes Marques Ackerman, Matthew Breetzke, Bosch, de Zorzi, Harmer, Hamza, Jansen, Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Mulder, Nortje, Paterson, Rabada and Ryan Rickelton. Lungi Ngidi was not considered while rehabilitating, according to the ICC’s South Africa squad announcement. This is the announced squad, not the playing XI.
Bangladesh named a 16-man group captained by Najmul Hossain Shanto. It includes Tanzid Hasan, Naim Sheikh, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Towhid Hridoy, Jaker Ali, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Khaled Ahmed and uncapped batter Mahfijul Islam. The team has not publicly confirmed its first-Test starting XI in the match information checked for this update.
Mahfijul earned a call-up following strong domestic first-class performances, but selection for the tour does not itself establish that he will debut. The ICC reported Khaled’s inclusion in place of Nayeem Hasan for the anticipated South African conditions, while opener Shadman Islam missed out with an ankle injury. Mominul returned after a concussion-related absence. These changes are set out in the ICC’s Bangladesh squad announcement.
Cricket South Africa’s official schedule identifies DP World Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, as the first-Test venue, with play listed for November 15, 16, 17, 18 and 19. The posted daily starting time is 10:00 a.m. in Johannesburg, South Africa Standard Time (UTC+02:00). South Africa does not use daylight saving time, so that is 08:00 UTC on each scheduled day. The ICC also lists the November 15 fixture at the Wanderers, with an 08:00 UTC start, in the ICC World Test Championship fixture list. These are scheduled times; weather or playing conditions could affect the actual first ball.
The second Test is booked for November 23–27 at SuperSport Park in Centurion, South Africa, with the same posted 10:00 a.m. SAST (08:00 UTC) daily start. It is the second match of a two-Test series within the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship, not an ODI or T20 fixture.
According to the ICC’s November 13 series preview, South Africa climbed to second in the championship race after its 2–1 home Test series win over Australia, and Bangladesh entered fifth after a 1–0 series loss to the West Indies. These positions relate to the World Test Championship points system, which measures the share of available points earned over a cycle; they are not the same as the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings, in which South Africa had climbed to No. 1 in late October.
Both sides have a meaningful chance to affect their championship position during this two-match contest. However, any updated standings position after Johannesburg depends on the actual result, other fixtures and possible points penalties. Readers can use the ICC WTC standings predictor for a scenario-based comparison rather than treating a projected table as a confirmed outcome.
Conrad has described Highveld conditions as traditionally favoring pace and bounce while acknowledging that the Wanderers has sometimes aided spin. His comments support a working expectation of seam bowling involvement and a spinner in South Africa’s XI, but do not amount to a verified match-day pitch report. The final surface, overhead conditions and toss could change how captains deploy their bowlers.
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Ebadot Hossain and Khaled Ahmed offer pace options, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz and Taijul Islam provide spin. Which combination plays remains a selection decision, not an established fact. If new-ball movement is significant, opening batters may be tested early; if the pitch slows, the spin contest may matter more later. Those are conditional tactical possibilities rather than forecasts of the result.
The first Test had not started at the time of verification on November 14. The official match page did not provide a toss winner, batting decision or populated scorecard, so no match score or final XI should be inferred. Check Cricket Australia’s match center for updated match information on November 15 and use the ICC fixture listing for another official reference. No precise toss time has been verified for this article.
For ball-by-ball information, the scorecard, toss and subsequent session updates, follow Cricket Australia’s match center or the ICC World Test Championship fixture list. Television and streaming rights may differ by territory, and this update has not verified a specific broadcaster for every country. Check official local broadcaster schedules rather than relying on an unverified universal stream link.
The teams are scheduled to travel to Centurion for the second Test starting November 23. If Nortje progresses as Conrad expects, his fitness could become an important selection issue for that fixture. The Johannesburg result may also affect championship percentages and the balance of the series. Neither outcome can be known before play takes place.
It is scheduled to start at 10:00 a.m. in Johannesburg (SAST, UTC+02:00) on Sunday, November 15, 2026, equivalent to 08:00 UTC.
His participation is not confirmed. Coach Shukri Conrad said the opener would probably come too soon and suggested Nortje may be ready for the second Test.
No confirmed toss outcome or final playing XIs were available in the official match center at this November 14 check.
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