- Who stays, who goes?
- Green’s return and a host of questions for Australia Here are the names at the centre of one of the most intriguing debates of recent times 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 3 in Ishan Kishan’s absence NZ vs Ind – New Zealand coach Rob Walter dispointed as NZ fail to take opportunities in first two T20Is New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said rotating the quicks wasn’t the “perfect science” but key for upcoming ODIs and Tests against India Glenn Phillips prepares to take a catch, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026 India’s comeback in Christchurch showed how three players are beginning to take on the burdens of an irreplaceable allrounder Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy complete the winning run, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026 Kyle Jamieson will leave T20I squad after third game, and Blair Tickner will join the squad for the last three games Tilak Varma made an unbeaten 26-ball 51, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026 Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (91), Rathod (66) and Washington (51*) also helped India A bounce back Devdutt Padikkal brought up a maiden century in just his third Test, Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test, Galle, 1st day, August 15, 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur congratulates Dee Sharma after her fifty, India vs Zimbabwe, 2nd Women’s ODI, Vadodara, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf added 89 for the last wicket to snatch victory, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf scripted an incredible tenth-wicket stand, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Harry Brook speaks with his bowler, Gus Atkinson, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf celebrate Pakistan’s incredible victory, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland walk off at stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day, December 29, 2024 With a series win in sight, Rickelton says South Africa want to back up their WTC title by beating the best and proving their credentials Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma revived South Africa, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 2nd day, October 19, 2026 SA vs AUS Newlands Test – Cameron Green available, prefers No.
- 4 oder 5, verlässt aber die letzte Entscheidung für Australien. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the last ODI against South Africa on September 30 and he will not be able to play in the final Test. Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests by overwhelming margins, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batsman at a time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after the aftermath South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon missed the starting XI for the third time in eight Tests Australia’s second Test but Ctain Cummins says his name will be “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland leave the stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 A concussion, neck problems and low scores – Steven Smith will be in Newlands, where the Sandpergate scandal was the scene, want a change Smith’s neck required medical attention after surviving a close call in the 27th over, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland out after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 Despite Matt Renshaw’s brilliant Test at No. 1.
Who stays, who goes?
Green’s return and a host of questions for Australia Here are the names at the centre of one of the most intriguing debates of recent times 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 3 in Ishan Kishan’s absence NZ vs Ind – New Zealand coach Rob Walter dispointed as NZ fail to take opportunities in first two T20Is New Zealand head coach Rob Walter said rotating the quicks wasn’t the “perfect science” but key for upcoming ODIs and Tests against India Glenn Phillips prepares to take a catch, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026 India’s comeback in Christchurch showed how three players are beginning to take on the burdens of an irreplaceable allrounder Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy complete the winning run, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026 Kyle Jamieson will leave T20I squad after third game, and Blair Tickner will join the squad for the last three games Tilak Varma made an unbeaten 26-ball 51, New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20I, Christchurch, October 24, 2026 Half-centuries from Sai Sudharsan (91), Rathod (66) and Washington (51*) also helped India A bounce back Devdutt Padikkal brought up a maiden century in just his third Test, Sri Lanka vs India, 1st Test, Galle, 1st day, August 15, 2026 Harmanpreet Kaur congratulates Dee Sharma after her fifty, India vs Zimbabwe, 2nd Women’s ODI, Vadodara, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf added 89 for the last wicket to snatch victory, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf scripted an incredible tenth-wicket stand, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Harry Brook speaks with his bowler, Gus Atkinson, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf celebrate Pakistan’s incredible victory, Pakistan vs England, Tri-Series, Lahore, October 25, 2026 Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland walk off at stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, 4th day, December 29, 2024 With a series win in sight, Rickelton says South Africa want to back up their WTC title by beating the best and proving their credentials Ryan Rickelton and Temba Bavuma revived South Africa, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, 2nd day, October 19, 2026 SA vs AUS Newlands Test – Cameron Green available, prefers No. 4 oder 5, verlässt aber die letzte Entscheidung für Australien. Green has not played since suffering an abdominal injury in the last ODI against South Africa on September 30 and he will not be able to play in the final Test. Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests by overwhelming margins, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batsman at a time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after the aftermath South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon missed the starting XI for the third time in eight Tests Australia’s second Test but Ctain Cummins says his name will be “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland leave the stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 A concussion, neck problems and low scores – Steven Smith will be in Newlands, where the Sandpergate scandal was the scene, want a change Smith’s neck required medical attention after surviving a close call in the 27th over, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland out after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia v India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 Despite Matt Renshaw’s brilliant Test at No. 1. As number 5 in Durban, Cameron Green was a big loss for Australia in the first two Tests.
He is a big part of the future and impressed in both games against Bangladesh in August, suggesting he is the No.1 pick. 5 was his long-term home. After confirming that he is suitable for the decision, he will be able to come back and reclaim the number 1 position.
However, the problem remains that he hasn’t pitched an innings in almost a month and is known as a pace hitter. It is a difficult question to come out relatively cold against Rabada and Marco Jansen. The other factor is that he cannot bowl, which could affect the balance of the team.
Josh Inglis’ tour was cut short by a broken finger during the ODI series, which saw him return to Perth for a short spell before rejoining the team at Gqeberha. He was in the mix in this Test and will definitely be back in the discussion this time when the selectors decide on several changes in the batting order. However, after scoring a century on his Test debut against Sri Lanka in early 2025, he failed to get past 32 in his next six innings.
In Beau Webster’s first eight Tests he made five half-centuries and got Australia out of difficult situations. His next four games saw him strike out a career-high 39 without striking out seven innings. The question for selectors is whether he will be discovered at the test level.
But he is a multi-dimensional cricketer. When Josh Hazlewood was ill in the second Test he bowled 19 overs, which was economical, and the ability to give the frontline quicks a rest will be important with only three playing at Newlands. However, he has taken just one wicket in his last six innings of bowling.
It’s easy to forget that Cooper Connolly is on this tour. When Australia needed a batting replacement for Durban, he was overlooked and instead a reshuffle of the order was made, putting Renshaw at No. 1. 5 and put Maddinson in the lead.
But he remains a highly regarded player and his selection would pease those desperate for an injection of youth into the Test team. In his favor, he is an excellent pacer and has shown on some big occasions in his short career that he can rise to the occasion. South Africa would certainly test him early with his impact.
His own left-arm spin could help him if Australia want to rebalance their all-rounders or even keep Nathan Lyon out. Cooper Connolly’s left-arm spin could help his case as Australia looks to rebalance its all-rounders. Cooper Connolly, the floating fielder, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, October 20, 2026 “At what point does he become unstoppable or is he already there,” a reporter asked Pat Cummins after the second Test. “That’s a good question,” he replied, before expressing his love for Scott Boland.
It would be notable, but entirely possible, for Boland to be left out despite scoring 5 for 81 and being Australia’s second highest scorer in the game in Gqeberha. He was impressive again in a center-wicket session on Sunday. Nathan Lyon has not been ruled out of consecutive Tests since 2013, when available.
When South Africa were 110 for 6 with Gqeberha, the decision seemed perfect and it is impossible to know whether Lyon’s presence would have halted their progress towards 400-plus. The spin numbers don’t favor him at Newlands, but if there wasn’t significant help he would still be able to play a holding role to allow the quicks to spin. Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland return to stumps after keeping India at bay for 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024
