- “We obviously want to go for the win” – Bavuma’s 179 gives South Africa a chance to dream. South Africa are now the only team with a realistic chance of victory, although being able to push through the aftermath will probably be key to the result. 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 dismissal Pat Cummins was sacked, India v Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1, at WACA, Perth, Thursday, November 20, 1997 Faf du Plessis on the words of support he gave Steven Smith after the news of ball-tampering in the year 2018 New Zealand vs India 2nd T20I – Vaibhav sent Sooryavanshi will feature as New Zealand and India prepare for another clash. Dew is likely to play a big role in Christchurch again and the team that wins the toss will prefer to chase Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot even if he isn’t playing. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sat on, New Zealand v India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026. Batting in white-ball cricket is less about where the head or feet are and more about what the hands are doing. Pratika Rawal celebrates her fourth ODI century, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026 NZ A vs Ind A – Rhys Mariu, Henry Nicholls, Ben Lister and Mitch Hay in the New Zealand A team who only played the first game of four days before joining the Indian ODI team. Shikhar Mohan scores a half-century for Jharkhand, Vidarbha vs Jharkhand, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Day 1, Nagpur, October 25, 2025 Rashid Khan finishes with 3 for 41, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Tri-Series Final, Sharjah, October 23, 2026 Concussion fears, neck problems and low scores – Steven Smith will be at Newlands, the scene of the Sandpergate scandal, want to turn things around 27th over, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, crushing margins and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing at any given time – have hurt them the most. Travis Head had to fight the most after their follow-up match, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon, for Australia Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Marnus Labuschagne returns, his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, 21 October 2026 SA v Australia, 2nd Test – Through rain, nerves and late drama, Africa South shows its championship spirit. The hosts have rediscovered their courage The championship spirit that turns adversity into opportunity and faith into victory that brings the series back into the juggle with Matthew Breetzke to dismiss Steven Smith provided this dramatic moment, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 5, 22 October 2026 SA v Australia, 2nd Test 2026-27 – Pat Cummins – Australia I’m coming innings batted did not “get over the cracks.” Australia needs to seriously consider making changes to its batting line-up for the crucial Test in Ce Town. Steven Smith was not present to defeat Kagiso Rabada, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 5, October 22, 2026. Rabada’s spirit, Jansen’s performance and Bavuma’s own runs ensured a strong response from the WTC champions after their defeat in Durban last week. Temba Bavuma kept it all in and then let it all out as he reached three figures, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, October 20, 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 statistic that mattered was his side’s defeat. Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double century, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrates victory after chasing 430, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Bavuma’s career-best 179 along with crucial lower-order runs from Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer turned the tables in the second Test, with South Africa now the only team with one realistic chance of victory, although the ability to enforce the follow-up is likely to be the key to the result.
- If Australia reaches 425, it will need to reach 226 in its first innings to save, and it had already lost a wicket before the end to finish 3 for 1.
- With Bavuma’s partnerships with Jansen and Harmer keeping the team out of danger and over 130 overs lost in the first two days of play, the prevailing opinion was that Bavuma could have retired earlier to extend his attack on the Australian top order in the final session.
“We obviously want to go for the win” – Bavuma’s 179 gives South Africa a chance to dream. South Africa are now the only team with a realistic chance of victory, although being able to push through the aftermath will probably be key to the result. 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 dismissal Pat Cummins was sacked, India v Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 Shane Warne Australia v New Zealand 2nd Test, Day 1, at WACA, Perth, Thursday, November 20, 1997 Faf du Plessis on the words of support he gave Steven Smith after the news of ball-tampering in the year 2018 New Zealand vs India 2nd T20I – Vaibhav sent Sooryavanshi will feature as New Zealand and India prepare for another clash. Dew is likely to play a big role in Christchurch again and the team that wins the toss will prefer to chase Abhishek Sharma and Vaibhav Vaibhav Sooryavanshi is learning a lot even if he isn’t playing. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi sat on, New Zealand v India, 1st T20I, Christchurch, October 22, 2026. Batting in white-ball cricket is less about where the head or feet are and more about what the hands are doing. Pratika Rawal celebrates her fourth ODI century, India vs Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Vadodara, October 23, 2026 NZ A vs Ind A – Rhys Mariu, Henry Nicholls, Ben Lister and Mitch Hay in the New Zealand A team who only played the first game of four days before joining the Indian ODI team. Shikhar Mohan scores a half-century for Jharkhand, Vidarbha vs Jharkhand, Ranji Trophy 2025-26, Day 1, Nagpur, October 25, 2025 Rashid Khan finishes with 3 for 41, Afghanistan vs Zimbabwe, Tri-Series Final, Sharjah, October 23, 2026 Concussion fears, neck problems and low scores – Steven Smith will be at Newlands, the scene of the Sandpergate scandal, want to turn things around 27th over, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Australia have lost two of their last four Tests, crushing margins and the lack of partnerships – or more than one batter standing at any given time – have hurt them the most. Travis Head had to fight the most after their follow-up match, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Simon, for Australia Harmer celebrates a wicket, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, October 21, 2026 Marnus Labuschagne returns, his Test career hanging by a thread, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 4, 21 October 2026 SA v Australia, 2nd Test – Through rain, nerves and late drama, Africa South shows its championship spirit. The hosts have rediscovered their courage The championship spirit that turns adversity into opportunity and faith into victory that brings the series back into the juggle with Matthew Breetzke to dismiss Steven Smith provided this dramatic moment, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 5, 22 October 2026 SA v Australia, 2nd Test 2026-27 – Pat Cummins – Australia I’m coming innings batted did not “get over the cracks.” Australia needs to seriously consider making changes to its batting line-up for the crucial Test in Ce Town. Steven Smith was not present to defeat Kagiso Rabada, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 5, October 22, 2026. Rabada’s spirit, Jansen’s performance and Bavuma’s own runs ensured a strong response from the WTC champions after their defeat in Durban last week. Temba Bavuma kept it all in and then let it all out as he reached three figures, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, October 20, 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 statistic that mattered was his side’s defeat. Will Jacks congratulates Harry Brook on his double century, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Sri Lanka celebrates victory after chasing 430, England v Sri Lanka, Tri-Series, October 22, 2026 Bavuma’s career-best 179 along with crucial lower-order runs from Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer turned the tables in the second Test, with South Africa now the only team with one realistic chance of victory, although the ability to enforce the follow-up is likely to be the key to the result.
If Australia reaches 425, it will need to reach 226 in its first innings to save, and it had already lost a wicket before the end to finish 3 for 1. With Bavuma’s partnerships with Jansen and Harmer keeping the team out of danger and over 130 overs lost in the first two days of play, the prevailing opinion was that Bavuma could have retired earlier to extend his attack on the Australian top order in the final session. However, he admitted he was even thinking about batting until the end before declaring as much when he forced the ball out of Mitchell Starc after Harmer was bowled by Marnus Labuschagne.
“Part of our plan was to keep them on the field as long as possible,” Bavuma said. “I think it paid off… having the opportunity to bowl there and get the wicket. If we want to be on the right side of the result we need to spend the majority of these two days on the pitch.
So I think mentally it’s about preparing for it overnight. “There is still something in the wicket, especially with this new ball. If we can put the ball in the right place for a long time, anything can hpen.
Hopefully the rotation will come into play on day five and Simon can pose a much bigger threat. We obviously want to aim for victory and will do everything we can to achieve this. “But even if South Africa are unable to force victory over the next two days, they could benefit from their batting efforts, which brought significant overs to an Australian attack hampered by the continued struggles of Josh Hazlewood, who was still suffering from the effects of food poisoning.” After missing the second day of play, he returned to the field and was cleared to play again shortly after lunch, but only bowled nine overs, with Starc saying it was a commendable performance for someone who was not fully healthy.
That left Starc bowling with 24.1 overs, Scott Boland with 29 and Pat Cummins with 26, with four days left until next week’s This Town Test. The omission of Nathan Lyon meant Australia had no leader to hold onto, although Boland took South Africa’s top spot in the truncated first two days and then finished with 5 for 81, it is a situation more likely to be attributed to bad luck than poor selection. Pat Cummins made a big change for little reward, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, October 20, 2026 “Obviously we were under man for quite a while so all three of us had a good rotation there,” Starc said.
“Josh did pretty well to get through the overs the way he felt. “When you come into the game, you don’t want to be outnumbered, right? Beau [Webster] played a lot more than he probably expected.
I thought he played pretty well, so he probably played that holding role a little bit more. If you know you’re down from the start, you’ll probably play with a different lineup, but unfortunately Josh had a questionable shrimp or something. Starc added that Lyon responded to his omission with a team-oriented attitude. It is the third time in the last eight Tests that Lyon have been available for a position where they have been left out in favor of a full-speed attack and when that decision was made against England at the Gabba last year, Lyon made no secret of his anger, describing himself as “dirty” in a television interview.
“I’m not sure if he’s reporting on the side today,” Starc joked. “Everyone wants to play every game. Of course you will be dispointed if you are not placed in the eleven.
He’s been around long enough to be the team player he is again. “He was the man on the edge for most of the day today, whether he was drinking leg drinks or giving a little T on the back.” I’ve been left out a lot and of course you’re dispointed that you can’t play, but he’ll get another chance. “South Africa is now the only team with a realistic chance of victory, although enforcement of follow-up is likely to be crucial to the result. Alex Carey and Steven Smith shake hands with Temba Bavuma after his 179th Test, South Africa v Australia, 2nd Test, Gqeberha, Day 3, 20 October 2026. South Africa is now the only team with a realistic chance of victory, although enforcement of enforcement is likely to be crucial to the result will.
