![\"Markram\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/5189510d-14e1-4da4-9933-fda32700984f.jpg\")
\n South Africa’s Aiden Markram was bowled by Scott Boland in a crucial early blow for Australia. (AP PHOTO)<\/p>\n
Scott Boland has justified his selection ahead of Nathan Lyon, taking two South Africa wickets in two balls in a rain-sodden start to the second Test in Gqerbha.<\/p>\n
Boland’s double strike left the Proteas 2-20 when rain set in and eventually ended play before tea on Sunday (Monday AEDT) after Australia won the toss and went with four quicks.<\/p>\n
His wickets came as just 74 balls were possible on day one, but again showed why \u00a0the Victoria veteran is the perfect man for these conditions.<\/p>\n
\n South Africa’s Aiden Markram was bowled by Scott Boland in a crucial early blow for Australia. (AP PHOTO)<\/p>\n
Boland first nipped a ball back off the seam to catch Aiden Markram’s edge and remove his middle stump, bowling the opener for 11.<\/p>\n
The next ball then pitched in almost the same spot, but this time went away off the wobble seam and took David Bedingham’s edge on the way through.<\/p>\n
Boland then briefly thought he had Temba Bavuma lbw for his second career hat-trick, but the Proteas’ captain had edged the ball into his pad.<\/p>\n
It came after Lyon was left out of a red-ball Test when fit for the first time in 13 years, with Australia now clearly more open to going without a frontline spinner.<\/p>\n
![\"Lyon\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/e02ee5e8-9af8-4587-be5c-2aa34d3897af.jpg\")
\n Nathan Lyon has been omitted from Australia’s line-up in the Gqeberha Test. (AP PHOTO)<\/p>\n
The 37-year-old has been overlooked twice when fit for pink-ball encounters in the past 18 months, but had played every daytime Test for Australia since July 2013 before Sunday.<\/p>\n
Lyon has also now missed five of the past 10 Tests for Australia through a combination of injury and selection, and bowled just two overs in Perth last summer.<\/p>\n
The tweaker had admitted he was “filthy” when left out of Australia’s team against England for the day-night Test at the Gabba last year, keen to carry the legacy of spinners forward.<\/p>\n
![\"Boland\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/fd3434bb-55f3-4095-a867-3faea51b09f6.jpg\")
\n Australia’s Scott Boland was at his probing best on being recalled in Gqeberha. (AP PHOTO)<\/p>\n
But with a green wicket at St George’s Park and heavy clouds overhead, the veteran became dispensable.<\/p>\n
“It’s partly conditions, and Scotty Boland has been incredible whenever he\u2019s played Test cricket,” captain Pat Cummins said at the toss.\u00a0<\/p>\n
“So it felt like it aligned this week and it was the right time to insert him.<\/p>\n
“When there\u2019s anything in the wicket, he gets a lot of seam movement. He\u2019s super accurate, and even if it does flatten out he brings that control.”<\/p>\n
The signs Lyon wasn’t playing were there on Sunday morning when he picked up a football during warm up, and appeared to congratulate Boland for his selection.<\/p>\n
Australia also have the advantage of Matt Renshaw’s off-spin after his two wickets in the first Test win, along with Travis Head’s tweakers and Beau Webster’s ability to bowl off-breaks.<\/p>\n
![\"Australian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/0e13b39e-bb5a-4259-bb43-f05da5dad770.jpg\")
\n Australian opener Nic Maddinson kept his place after making 0 and 48 in Durban. (AP PHOTO)<\/p>\n
Lyon’s omission was the only change for Australia, with Nic Maddinson to remain at the top of the order and Renshaw No.5 after his first Test heroics.<\/p>\n
For South Africa, the wet weather looms as a massive blow to their hopes of coming from 1-0 down to win the series.<\/p>\n
More rain is forecast for the morning of day two and day four, before the series moves to Cape Town next week.<\/p>\n
![\"Rain](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/033086e3-b94d-4a3e-ac12-3c74b204c4f5.jpg\")
\n The rain delays that interrupted day one could well continue on Monday. (AP PHOTO)<\/p>\n
They have at least welcomed back pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada for this Test in place of spinner Keshav Maharaj, with fellow tweaker Simon Harmer holding his spot.<\/p>\n
Marques Ackerman did well opening on debut after never doing so in first-class cricket, fighting through 32 tricky balls to be unbeaten on five when the rain hit.<\/p>\n
Matthew Breetzke has also come into the side, with Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne axed.\u00a0<\/p>\n