- ‘Can’t defend that’ – Australia’s batting deficiencies exposed Australia coach Andrew McDonald backed the longer term record of his side after they were bundled out for 99 The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day One, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday November 20th 1997 Pollard was part of the squad in each of the five IPL-winning seasons: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 Kieron Pollard leads his team on to the field, MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns, Major League Cricket (MLC), Dallas, July 18, 2024 NZ vs Ind 2nd T20I – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to get in as New Zealand and India prepare for another slugfest Dew will likely play a big role again in Christchurch and the team winning the toss will prefer to chase Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will likely open in the second game, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to sit out, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 Batting in white-ball cricket has become less about where the head is or the feet go and more about what the hands do Pratika Rawal notched up her fourth ODI century, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026 NZ A vs Ind A – Rhys Mariu, Henry Nicholls, Ben Lister, Mitch Hay in star-studded New Zealand A squad The New Zealand A squad is of 19 members, but the players will be rotated – 13 will be available for each of the three four-dayers, with the others released to play the Ford Trophy Rhys Mariu drives on his international debut, New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Hamilton, ril 2, 2025 Shikhar Mohan will replace KL Rahul, who will only play the first four-day match before linking up with the India ODI team Shikhar Mohan hit a half-century for Jharkhand, Vidarbha vs Jharkhand, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, 1st day, Nagpur, October 25, 2025 Rashid Khan finished with 3 for 41, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Tri-series final, Sharjah, October 23, 2026 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Marnus Labuschagne walks back with his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 SA vs Aus, 2nd Test – Through rain, nerves and late drama, South Africa flex their championship mettle The hosts rediscovered their champion spirit, turning adversity into opportunity and belief into a statement win that reshes the series Matthew Breetzke’s juggling catch to dismiss Steven Smith served up this dramatic moment, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 5th day, October 22, 2026 SA vs Aus 2nd Test 2026-27 – Pat Cummins – Australia can’t ‘per over cracks’ after innings thrashing Australia will need to seriously consider changes to their batting line-up for the deciding Test in Ce Town Steven Smith was out pulling Kagiso Rabada, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 5th day, October 22, 2026 Rabada’s spirit, Jansen’s performance and Bavuma’s own runs offered a strong response from the WTC champions after going down in Durban last week Temba Bavuma kept it all in and then let it all out when he got to three-figures, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 3rd day, October 20, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Head coach Andrew McDonald conceded that Australia ‘s batting weaknesses had been exposed on the fourth day in Gqeberha, when they collsed for 99 and were forced to follow-on for just the third time since 1988, but he would not “hang anyone out to dry”.
- Travis Head was unbeaten on 87 and McDonald confirmed that Steven Smith would be able to take part on the final day despite suffering a neck problem that meant he slipped down the order.
- The state of the game was a remarkable turnaround from just 48 hours earlier when South Africa finished the second day on 97 for 5.
‘Can’t defend that’ – Australia’s batting deficiencies exposed Australia coach Andrew McDonald backed the longer term record of his side after they were bundled out for 99 The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day One, at the WACA, Perth, Thursday November 20th 1997 Pollard was part of the squad in each of the five IPL-winning seasons: 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 Kieron Pollard leads his team on to the field, MI New York vs San Francisco Unicorns, Major League Cricket (MLC), Dallas, July 18, 2024 NZ vs Ind 2nd T20I – Vaibhav Sooryavanshi set to get in as New Zealand and India prepare for another slugfest Dew will likely play a big role again in Christchurch and the team winning the toss will prefer to chase Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will likely open in the second game, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 India’s batting coach is excited about Naman Dhir’s potential and says Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot despite not playing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi continued to sit out, New Zealand vs India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026 Batting in white-ball cricket has become less about where the head is or the feet go and more about what the hands do Pratika Rawal notched up her fourth ODI century, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026 NZ A vs Ind A – Rhys Mariu, Henry Nicholls, Ben Lister, Mitch Hay in star-studded New Zealand A squad The New Zealand A squad is of 19 members, but the players will be rotated – 13 will be available for each of the three four-dayers, with the others released to play the Ford Trophy Rhys Mariu drives on his international debut, New Zealand vs Pakistan, 2nd ODI, Hamilton, ril 2, 2025 Shikhar Mohan will replace KL Rahul, who will only play the first four-day match before linking up with the India ODI team Shikhar Mohan hit a half-century for Jharkhand, Vidarbha vs Jharkhand, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, 1st day, Nagpur, October 25, 2025 Rashid Khan finished with 3 for 41, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Tri-series final, Sharjah, October 23, 2026 A concussion scare, a troublesome neck and low scores – Steven Smith will want to turn things around at Newlands, which was the scene of the Sandpergate scandal Steven Smith’s neck needed medical attention after he survived a close call in the 27th over, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, by crushing margins at that, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing tall at any given time – has hurt them the most Travis Head fought for Australia after their follow-on, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Marnus Labuschagne walks back with his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 SA vs Aus, 2nd Test – Through rain, nerves and late drama, South Africa flex their championship mettle The hosts rediscovered their champion spirit, turning adversity into opportunity and belief into a statement win that reshes the series Matthew Breetzke’s juggling catch to dismiss Steven Smith served up this dramatic moment, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 5th day, October 22, 2026 SA vs Aus 2nd Test 2026-27 – Pat Cummins – Australia can’t ‘per over cracks’ after innings thrashing Australia will need to seriously consider changes to their batting line-up for the deciding Test in Ce Town Steven Smith was out pulling Kagiso Rabada, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 5th day, October 22, 2026 Rabada’s spirit, Jansen’s performance and Bavuma’s own runs offered a strong response from the WTC champions after going down in Durban last week Temba Bavuma kept it all in and then let it all out when he got to three-figures, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 3rd day, October 20, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball Janith Liyanage celebrates with team-mates after hitting six to win the game off the penultimate ball, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company in Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double-century, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrate victory after chasing down 430, England vs Sri Lanka, Tri-series, October 22, 2026 Head coach Andrew McDonald conceded that Australia ‘s batting weaknesses had been exposed on the fourth day in Gqeberha, when they collsed for 99 and were forced to follow-on for just the third time since 1988, but he would not “hang anyone out to dry”.
Travis Head was unbeaten on 87 and McDonald confirmed that Steven Smith would be able to take part on the final day despite suffering a neck problem that meant he slipped down the order. The state of the game was a remarkable turnaround from just 48 hours earlier when South Africa finished the second day on 97 for 5. They were able to transform that into 425 before Marco Jansen led the way with the ball, taking 5 for 33, while Kagiso Rabada has made an impact on his return and Simon Harmer played a key role in the second innings to help absorb the loss of Anrich Nortje to injury.
“I think any time when anything unfolds at that speed, it takes a couple of players to communicate and navigate through that and we weren’t able to get any partnerships,” McDonald said of the 99 all out. “We’ve had some of these moments across the journey, so we’re not a perfect batting unit and I’ve never said that we are. “The speed at which that hpened and the momentum that South Africa were able to gain through that, we didn’t envisage coming here and looking at a follow-on, that’s for sure.
We felt like we were good enough on that surface, it didn’t play too many tricks, either. There was a bit of bounce. You do have to give a little bit of credit to the South African attack as well, the way they exposed some of our deficiencies in that, so I don’t want to take anything away from that.
Matt Renshaw was bowled leaving a delivery, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 “But there was some batter error there and I think we are better than that but, as it sits right now, I can’t defend that.” Australia took the first Test in Durban handsomely by 214 runs. Despite question marks over the batting for a few years, they have not lost a Test series since the away trip to India in 2023 and McDonald defended their long-term record. However, frailty was on display when they lost the World Test Championship final to South Africa last year and in the more recent defeat against Bangladesh in Darwin.
“It’s only a week ago that we were a really, really good team,” McDonald said. “We’re sitting here right now and we’re starting to defend a team that’s performed exceonally well. You’ll be looking for a grab-and-talk about the negatives and what should hpen and what should move.
This team’s been a really consistent team over a long period of time so I’m not going to sit here and hang anyone out to dry.” “It’s dispointing, but as I said, those players that sit in that room are still the same players that performed exceonally well last week. I have great belief and trust that the skillsets in that room, in particular tomorrow, can go out there and potentially turn this one around. “If that doesn’t unfold, then we move into Ce Town, we reload and we go again.
A great strength of this group is on significant setbacks, and I’d say this is a significant setback in terms of the way that we play, we’ve been able to respond.” McDonald refused to be drawn on potential changes for the final Test while this game was still ongoing, which is standard practice, but when asked separately about Cameron Green ‘s recovery, he indicated that Green would be available for selection. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal strain in the final ODI in late September and is unlikely to be available to bowl but would warrant a place as a specialist batter. Josh Inglis and Cooper Connolly are the other batting oons from the original squad while the uncped Sam Harper currently remains on the tour after being called up when Inglis was ruled out of the opening Test with a fractured finger.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald backed the longer term record of his side after they were bundled out for 99 Matt Renshaw was bowled leaving a delivery, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 SA vs Aus 2nd Test 2026-27 – ‘Can’t defend that’ – Australia’s batting deficiencies exposed | Australia coach Andrew McDonald backed the longer term record of his side after they were bundled out for 99 Australia coach Andrew McDonald backed the longer term record of his side after they were bundled out for 99
