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Legendary Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy has made a big statement ahead of the third and final Test against South Africa in Cape Town, starting on Tuesday (October 27). Healy has called the Test series-decider Australia's most important Test match of the 21st century.
The three-match Test series is currently locked at 1-1 with the winner set to clinch the trophy. This Test match is also special because Australia will return to Newlands for a Test for the first time since the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal. Earlier, Usman Khawaja reveals health secret he hid from teammates throughout his career.
Why Ian Healy believes the Cape Town Test could define Australian cricket
Ian Healy believes that the upcoming Cape Town Test match could become one of the most memorable moments in Australian Test cricket history. He compared the upcoming Test series decider against South Africa with the 2005 Ashes series in England.
Healy said at SENQ Breakfast, "This is the most important test for Australia in this century. That’s 27 years. I go back to 2005, when Australia played England away in the Ashes (the most important game of the previous year). Let’s hope there’s not a draw in this match because of the weather or for the game being played too negatively. This needs a result, and this will be one of the great Test series outcomes for whoever wins it.”
Ian Healy Backs Marnus Labuschagne for Cape Town Test despite recent struggles
Australia's batting lineup is under pressure after the team was bowled out for just 99 runs in the first innings of the second Test in Gqeberha. The selectors now face a big challenge in selecting the playing XI for the three-match Test series decider against South Africa.
Healy wants Marnus Labuschagne to be retained for the crucial game in Cape Town with Nic Maddinson already being set back home. The former Australian star believes Labuschagne deserves another chance at No. 3, as he has scored at least 37 runs in three of his four innings in the series. Amid this, Aiden Markram reveals South Africa’s historic 2027 dream ahead of Cape Town Test vs Australia.
The commentator added, “People are saying, ‘We can’t give Marnus another test. 'Well, we can, because he’s in okay form. He's not the worst we’ve got, and he needs to do his job. I don't want to burden and unsettle this bunch when there's such an important job to do. If he gets 30 and gets out again, that's not going to be good enough.”
Ian Healy urges Pat Cummins to keep Australia’s Playing XI secret until toss
Healy also wants the Australian captain Pat Cummins and the team management to keep their playing XI under wraps until the toss. He is keen to see when South Africa reveal their team, especially after announcing their playing XI early in the first two tests.
He signed off by saying, “We haven’t been making our decisions on the team known until the toss. It’ll be very interesting to see what South Africa does to this test because they’ve revealed it early in the last two. We will be as late as we're allowed to be with this team.”
Ian Healy predicts Australia XI for the Cape Town Test
Healy has selected Matt Renshaw to open alongside Travis Head, while Labuschagne retains the No. 3 position. Steve Smith will bat at No. 4, followed by Cameron Green and wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Beau Webster completes the batting line-up, while Healy’s bowling attack is led by captain Cummins. Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, and Nathan Lyon complete the attack for the Cape Town encounter.
Healy's predicted playing XI:
Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (WK), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon.
