Aussie star Cooper Connolly in quarantine as South Africa’s spearhead Kagiso Rabada gets ruled out of first Test

Cooper Connolly has had to travel separate to Australia’s team while wearing a mask, as the tourists weigh up his potential return to the Test team in South Africa.

Connolly was spotted leaving Kingsmead in a van after training on Thursday (Friday AEDT) afternoon on the eve of the first Test against South Africa , while the rest of the side moved back to the Durban team hotel on a bus.

It is understood the 23-year-old has a head cold and Australia opted for caution after he trained normally through the afternoon session.

Still, it comes at an interesting time for the West Australian ahead of the first Test.

Australia are already without their regular No.5 in Cameron Green due to an abdominal strain, while Josh Inglis is back in Perth with a fractured finger.

The tourists will wait to see how dry the pitch is on Friday before announcing their side at the toss, with Connolly and Nic Maddinson in contention to come in for Green.

Connolly has not played a Test since his debut against Sri Lanka last February, while Maddinson’s last appearance came way back in December 2016.

Both could play if the wicket is particularly dry, given Maddinson is a noted player of spin and Connolly offers left-arm tweakers.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s pace spearhead Kagiso Rabada has been ruled out after failing to overcome his hamstring tear.

Rabada had been in a race against the clock since hurting his hamstring in August, and had been given every chance to play in Friday’s first Test in Durban.

But after the quick was limited to bowling off close to nine steps at Kingsmead on Wednesday, the Proteas opted to take the safer option on match-eve.

It means South Africa will play Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje as their two frontline quicks, while playing two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer.

Allrounder Wiaan Murder will act as a third seamer, on a Kingsmead wicket expected to turn as the game goes on.

Rabada’s absence comes 10 days out from the start of the second Test in Gqeberha (formally Port Elizabeth), with the hosts hopeful he can return for that.