- Travis Head hopes Australia, under fire, finds “that collective batting day”. Australia have lost two of their last four Tests overwhelmingly, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter at a time – has hurt them the most. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5 but leaves final call up to Australia. 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 take part in the final Test. Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, due to crushing margins and a lack of partnerships – or more than one batsman standing at any given time. Time – hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after their follow-up match, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon was missing from the starting XI for the third time in eight Tests in Australia’s second Test, but Ctain Cummins said his name would be “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland left the stumps after keeping India at bay for some time 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into conversation if South Africa want to field a fast bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Ce Town Test. Anrich Nortje literally bent his back to allow the batters to jump in the first hour, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026. With his falling body art and provocative back two at the crease, the fast bowler put everything on the line to give Australia an unforgettable win at Ce Town in 2014. A concussion, a problematic 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 required medical attention after surviving a close hit in the 27th over, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, 21 October 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, 21 October 2026 Harry Brook walks off after scoring 202 from 116 balls England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with her teammates after hitting a six on the penultimate ball to win the game. Janith Liyanage celebrates with her teammates after hitting a six off the penultimate ball to win the game, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company at Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double century, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Aaron Finch and Faf du Plessis look back on the anecdote that made them realize how competitive Steve Smith was. The question marks over Australia’s batting line-up date back more than two months, but the last four games, two of which were crushing defeats, highlight the growing problem: in seven innings against Bangladesh and South Africa, not more than one player has passed the 50 mark.
- There was a nine-wicket defeat in Darwin and a 31-run drubbing in Gqeberha.
- Both reached hundreds in the second innings – Cameron Green against Bangladesh and Travis Head this week – but they were left alone.
Travis Head hopes Australia, under fire, finds “that collective batting day”. Australia have lost two of their last four Tests overwhelmingly, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter at a time – has hurt them the most. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah are all smiling after dismissing Pat Cummins. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 4 or 5 but leaves final call up to Australia. 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 take part in the final Test. Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, due to crushing margins and a lack of partnerships – or more than one batsman standing at any given time. Time – hurt them the most. Travis Head struggled the most for Australia after their follow-up match, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Lyon was missing from the starting XI for the third time in eight Tests in Australia’s second Test, but Ctain Cummins said his name would be “at the forefront” of discussions before decision-makers Nathan Lyon and Scott Boland left the stumps after keeping India at bay for some time 110 balls, Australia vs India, 4th Test, Melbourne, Day 4, December 29, 2024 Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson will come into conversation if South Africa want to field a fast bowler in place of Anrich Nortje in the Ce Town Test. Anrich Nortje literally bent his back to allow the batters to jump in the first hour, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026. With his falling body art and provocative back two at the crease, the fast bowler put everything on the line to give Australia an unforgettable win at Ce Town in 2014. A concussion, a problematic 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 required medical attention after surviving a close hit in the 27th over, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, 21 October 2026 Simon Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, 21 October 2026 Harry Brook walks off after scoring 202 from 116 balls England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Janith Liyanage celebrates with her teammates after hitting a six on the penultimate ball to win the game. Janith Liyanage celebrates with her teammates after hitting a six off the penultimate ball to win the game, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Harry Brook put himself in illustrious company at Pindi – but the only stat that mattered was his team’s defeat Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double century, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Aaron Finch and Faf du Plessis look back on the anecdote that made them realize how competitive Steve Smith was. The question marks over Australia’s batting line-up date back more than two months, but the last four games, two of which were crushing defeats, highlight the growing problem: in seven innings against Bangladesh and South Africa, not more than one player has passed the 50 mark.
There was a nine-wicket defeat in Darwin and a 31-run drubbing in Gqeberha. Both reached hundreds in the second innings – Cameron Green against Bangladesh and Travis Head this week – but they were left alone. In the first innings of these games, in which they effectively lost, only Steven Smith in Darwin surpassed fifty.
“I think it’s pretty clear what we did wrong, we had a pretty crpy day,” was Head’s succinct praise for Australia’s 99 in the first innings at St George’s Park. Pat Cummins said in his post-match press conference that victory can be overcome by cracks and even the two big victories – a quick two-day win in Mackay and the impressive performance in Durban – were based on an individual stroke rather than a collective. Mackay looked strange as 210 was enough for an innings win by Mitchell Starc, but the Australian batting force stumbled to 146 for 7, with Green the only one to get past 50.
At Kingsmead, Matt Renshaw was well ahead of his team-mates with a total of 272 points. “I think what we said as a group before the series was that we had one man every time, so to speak,” Head said after his 121 in the second innings at Gqeberha. “They have always been different individuals and we have not been able to achieve the collective batting day that we would like to have as a team.
“That’s what wins games, the individual performance, but as a collective we have to do it too.” I thought about what Baz [Scott Boland] had done in over three hours since issue #1. 6 in the second inning at Gqeberha]… was exceonal for the team.
A few more supporting roles are very useful, but we just couldn’t find them. “That’s something the team has been very good at for a long time: being able to build great partnerships, substantial partnerships that win cricket matches.” We just haven’t been able to find it for the past few months.
It’s very difficult to understand why. We are playing exceonal attacks in difficult conditions, but it is not for lack of effort. » After a first-innings score of 99 in Gqeberha, Australia’s lowest first-innings score since South Africa reached 85 in Hobart in 2016, coach Andrew McDonald lamented that the batting order had been unable to absorb the pressure long enough to stem the tide. “The game is all about momentum,” Head said.
“Trying to gain momentum, resisting momentum, replying pressure on the opponent, and how you do that hpens in different ways: Do you go back and defend, do you move forward and fight fire with fire? So that’s that balancing act. If you see collisions, have you found the right balance? “Some would say sometimes it’s not offensive enough, sometimes it’s not defensive enough, so it’s a double-edged sword.”
It all comes down to decision making, plan, plan and method. So when you’re tested, the method, planning and execution has to be perfect and when it’s not, you see failure and I think that will remain the case throughout cricket forever. “Marnus Labuschagne returns, his Test career hanging in the balance, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Meanwhile, Head admitted that the pressure felt by Marnus Labuschagne was clear after his reaction to being sent off in the second innings when he dropped Simon Harmer in the middle to end their 92-run stand gave. This hpened just 13 balls after DRS overturned a heavyweight decision, with the ball missing leg stump by less than 5mm. “I’ve been there before,” Head said.
“It’s hard to be when you think you’re hitting well. I’ve probably been there more than anyone in my 30s and 40s and it feels like you’re close, but it’s not quite there yet. “There is pressure, it’s very clear to see and evident in the way he reacts.
[He] got away with an [lbw] and you can see… he knows it was a big moment and he’s dispointed. There is no guarantee about the game and I can’t say what will hpen in the future, but you know he is a good player. “Test cricket is really tough but we are in a competitive game so everyone feels the pressure.
I’ve been feeling the pressure over the last few weeks and really wanted to run. So everyone feels that, regardless of position. Steve Smith has 11,000 tries, I think he will feel the pressure at some point.
Everyone wants to score runs.” Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, eroding margins, and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter at a time – has hurt them the most. Travis Head batted for Australia after their follow-up match, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026. Aaron Finch and Faf du Plessis recall the anecdote that made them realize how competitive Steve is Smith was story:1559795+ SA vs Aus 3rd Test – Travis Head hopes under fire Australia finds ‘that collective batting day’ of a batsman who at one point – what hurts them the most
