Australia captain Pat Cummins stated that the team will finalise its playing XI for the third Test against South Africa after arriving in Cape Town. Cummins said that Cameron Green and Josh Inglis's availability for the series decider would be discussed before the team makes its final decision.
Australia suffered an innings and 31-run defeat in the rain-curtailed second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha. The Temba Bavuma-led team levelled the ongoing three-match series at 1-1. The third and final Test will be played at Newlands in Cape Town, starting on Tuesday, October 27.
Pat Cummins Opens Up On Changes After Australia's Batting Collapse
Australia's batting struggled in the second Test, with the visitors bowled out for just 99 in their first innings. Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster failed to make significant contributions. Green and Inglis could strengthen the batting lineup if they are fit.
However, Pat Cummins said that the selectors must balance the need for changes against giving struggling players another opportunity to find form.
"It's not a perfect science," Cummins said. "It's always the challenge of, do you give someone one more game? Or do you feel like now is the right time to make a move?"
"I think we will probably have Cam Green and Josh Inglis be available for next week – I'm sure their names will get thrown around when we try and work out an XI," he added.
Pat Cummins Backs Marnus Labuschagne Despite Lean Run
Marnus Labuschagne is another batter under scrutiny after failing to convert promising starts into substantial scores. The experienced No. 3 made 14 and 39 in Gqeberha, extending his wait for a Test century.
Pat Cummins defended Labuschagne's technique, pointing out that facing the new ball against fresh fast bowlers is one of the toughest tasks in Test cricket. However, he acknowledged that the batter needs to turn his starts into bigger scores.
"I think the hardest thing about opening or batting three is actually getting yourself in," Cummins said. "The ball is normally doing a fair bit. You've got fresh bowlers, and he's actually doing the hard bit."
"He's getting to 30s. I think he's got to find a way to turn those into bigger scores – 30s aren't going to win you too many matches. But it's certainly not a technique error. Maybe some decisions where the game demanded something a little bit different," he said.
South Africa Set Up Newlands Decider With Dominant Win
South Africa levelled the series with a commanding innings and 31-run victory at St George's Park in Gqeberha despite losing time to rain early in the contest. The hosts dismissed Australia for 99 in 42.3 overs, with Marco Jansen taking five wickets to put the visitors under pressure.
After enforcing the follow-on, South Africa faced a determined response from Travis Head, who scored a century to keep Australia's hopes alive. Nightwatchman Scott Boland also showed remarkable resistance, facing 166 deliveries, but the visitors received little support from the remaining batters.
Australia were eventually dismissed for 295 early in the final session, handing South Africa a crucial victory and setting up a winner-takes-all third Test at Newlands in Cape Town from Tuesday, October 27.
South Africa beat Australia by 322 runs in their previous meeting at Newlands, while the ground is also associated with Australia's 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Pat Cummins' side must now respond with a stronger batting performance to secure the series victory.
Also read: WTC Points Table after South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test, 2026
