Pat Cummins expects Cameron Green and Josh Inglis to be available for third South Africa Test

Australia Weighs Test XI Changes as Pat Cummins Prepares for Cape Town Decider

Australia will wait until reaching Cape Town before settling on its playing XI for the decisive third Test against South Africa, captain Pat Cummins has confirmed. The availability of all-rounder Cameron Green and wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis is expected to be part of the selection discussion as Australia looks to recover from a heavy defeat and reclaim control of the series.

The three-match contest is level at 1-1 after South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the rain-affected second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. The teams now head to Newlands for a winner-takes-all clash, scheduled to begin on Tuesday, October 27. With the series on the line, Australia’s batting order—and the balance between patience and change—will be central to the pre-match prediction and debate.

Cummins Says Australia Will Assess Green and Inglis

Australia’s first-innings collapse in Gqeberha raised immediate questions about whether the team should make changes for the decider. The visitors were dismissed for just 99, placing their bowlers under pressure and giving South Africa a commanding advantage. Green and Inglis could offer additional batting options if they are fit and ready to play.

Cummins said the selectors would consider both players while finalising the team after arriving in Cape Town. He also acknowledged that selection is rarely a straightforward choice, particularly when a player has struggled but may still be capable of producing a better performance.

“It’s not a perfect science,” Cummins said, describing the challenge of deciding whether to give a player another opportunity or make a change. He added that Green and Inglis were likely to be available, meaning their names would be discussed as the team works through its options.

The decision will involve more than simply replacing underperforming batters. Australia will need to consider the conditions at Newlands, the workload of its bowlers, and whether a revised lineup can provide greater resilience against South Africa’s fast attack. Green’s all-round ability could give the side flexibility, while Inglis would offer another specialist batting option and wicketkeeping cover.

Australia’s Batting Must Respond After Collapse

The second Test exposed Australia’s vulnerability when South Africa’s bowlers found movement and maintained pressure. Marco Jansen led the attack with five wickets in the first innings, helping bowl the visitors out in 42.3 overs. Australia’s low total left little room for error, even though rain had reduced playing time earlier in the match.

After South Africa enforced the follow-on, Australia showed more resistance. Travis Head produced a century that briefly gave the visitors hope of extending the contest, while nightwatchman Scott Boland occupied the crease for 166 deliveries. Their efforts, however, were not matched by enough support from the rest of the batting order. Australia was eventually dismissed for 295 early in the final session.

For the decider, Australia will need to turn individual contributions into a more substantial team performance. A stronger start could be especially important against South Africa’s pace bowlers, who demonstrated how quickly a Test match can shift when the batting side loses early wickets. Newlands may offer its own challenges, so Australia’s preparation and shot selection will be closely watched.

Cummins Backs Labuschagne to Convert His Starts

Marnus Labuschagne is another player under scrutiny after making 14 and 39 in Gqeberha. The Australia No. 3 has reached promising positions without converting them into a major score, and his wait for a Test century continues. Even so, Cummins defended his teammate’s technique and highlighted the difficulty of batting near the top of the order against fresh fast bowlers.

“The hardest thing about opening or batting three is actually getting yourself in,” Cummins said. He noted that the ball is often moving and that Labuschagne has been managing the demanding early phase of his innings. The captain also stressed, however, that scores in the 30s are not enough to decide matches consistently.

Cummins suggested that Labuschagne may need to make sharper decisions as an innings develops, particularly when the match situation calls for a different approach. That distinction matters: the concern is not necessarily a technical flaw, but whether the batter can turn a solid start into the kind of score that steadies Australia’s innings or puts pressure back on the opposition.

South Africa Carry Momentum Into Newlands

South Africa’s victory in Gqeberha was built on a powerful bowling performance and a disciplined response to difficult conditions. Jansen’s five-wicket haul helped secure a substantial first-innings lead, while the home side stayed in control after the follow-on. The result levelled the series and gave Temba Bavuma’s team a chance to claim a significant home victory in the final Test.

Newlands adds another layer of interest to the contest. South Africa previously beat Australia by 322 runs at the Cape Town ground, and the venue remains associated with the 2018 ball-tampering scandal involving the Australian team. That history will inevitably form part of the wider conversation, but the immediate challenge is sporting: Australia must produce a more reliable batting display, while South Africa will look to sustain the pressure that proved so effective in the second Test.

What to Watch in the Third Test

The key selection question is whether Australia retains faith in its current batting group or brings Green and Inglis into the lineup. Cummins’ comments suggest the decision will be made only after the team has assessed the players and conditions in Cape Town. The final XI could reflect a balance between rewarding experience and responding decisively to a major collapse.

Labuschagne’s ability to convert a start, Australia’s response to South Africa’s pace attack, and the visitors’ overall batting depth are likely to shape the match. South Africa enters the decider with momentum, but a single strong performance can change the outlook of a Test series. With the score tied and the final match at Newlands, the prediction remains difficult: South Africa will aim to press its advantage, while Australia has the opportunity to answer its critics and take the series with a determined display.