South Africa and Australia head to Newlands in Cape Town for a series-deciding third Test, with the three-match contest locked at 1-1 following two dramatically different results.
Australia dominated the opening Test in Durban, winning by 214 runs, but South Africa responded with a crushing innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha. The Proteas exposed Australia's fragile batting lineup and will fancy their chances of completing the comeback on home soil.
The tourists have some important selection decisions to make, with Cameron Green and Josh Inglis available again, while South Africa must replace the injured Anrich Nortje.
With both sides boasting outstanding fast-bowling attacks, the final Test promises another demanding examination of the batters.
South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test Match Information
South Africa vs Australia
3rd Test • Series Decider
| Date |
27–31 October 2026 |
| Venue |
Newlands, Cape Town |
| Start Time |
7:30pm AEDT |
| Series |
Level 1-1 |
| Broadcast |
Fox Cricket, Kayo Sports |
South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test Betting Tips
South Africa enters the deciding Test as the favourite following its dominant performance in Gqeberha. We've identified three selections across the match result and player markets.
| Market |
Best Bet |
Odds |
| Match Winner |
South Africa |
$1.91 (2 units) |
| SA 1st Innings Wickets |
Marco Jansen |
$3.30 (1 unit) |
| SA 1st Innings Runs |
Temba Bavuma |
$5.30 (0.5 units) |
South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test Betting Odds
The latest market has South Africa as favourites, although Australia remains well within striking distance.
| Match Result |
Odds |
| South Africa |
$1.91 |
| Australia |
$2.20 |
| Draw |
$9.25 |
The Proteas are deserved favourites after their dominant second Test performance, but there is a reasonable argument that the market has reacted strongly to Australia's batting collapse.
Australia Team News and Form
Australia's batting has become the major talking point heading into the decider. Will mass changes be made or will the Australian selectors hold firm?
The tourists were bundled out for just 99 in their first innings at Gqeberha, despite having earlier reduced South Africa to 5-97. It was an extraordinary turnaround that ultimately cost Australia the match.
Travis Head offered some resistance with a second-innings century, scoring 121, but Australia's inability to build substantial partnerships has been a recurring problem.
Steve Smith has struggled for runs, while Marnus Labuschagne continues to find starts without converting them into significant scores. It's been over three years since Labuschagne scored a Test century and surely his time is now up. Labuschagne was reportedly playing a minor role at training which may suggest changes are afoot. Nic Maddinson was unlucky to be thrust into an opening role that's not his best fit, and he looks a likely scapegoat as well.
The return of Cameron Green should provide some stability to the middle order. Green has recovered from an abdominal injury and is available as a specialist batter, although he is not yet cleared to bowl. Josh Inglis is another option after recovering from a broken finger.
It seems highly likely that Matt Renshaw will return to the opening position, and then it's whether Green slots into number five, or slides up to number three with Inglis coming into the middle order and Labuschagne omitted.
Australia's bowling remains its biggest strength but their are selection decisions there as well. Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are capable of exploiting the conditions at Newlands, while Scott Boland's performances have created a difficult decision over who to leave out. You would think that a drier surface will mean that Nathan Lyon has to be recalled, and Boland is almost undroppable after five wickets and a strong batting effort, so Hazlewood might be the one to be rested.
It's been a long time since there was a more interesting lineup selection decision than this one for the Aussies.
South Africa Team News and Form
South Africa will arrive in Cape Town with enormous confidence after completely dismantling Australia's batting lineup in the second Test.
Temba Bavuma led the way with a superb 179, demonstrating the patience and application that Australia's batters have struggled to produce consistently.
Marco Jansen was equally influential, contributing 85 runs and claiming five wickets in Australia's first innings. His ability to influence matches with both bat and ball makes him one of South Africa's most important players, and one of the leading all-rounders in international cricket.
Kagiso Rabada also made an immediate impact on his return to the side, strengthening an already dangerous pace attack.
The major setback is the loss of Anrich Nortje, who has been ruled out with a groin injury.
Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson are among the replacement options, while Keshav Maharaj could return if the selectors believe conditions will suit a second specialist spinner.
Newlands Pitch and Conditions
Newlands has historically been an excellent venue for fast bowling, and recent results suggest that pace will again play a major role. Since 2020, fast bowlers have taken 84 Test wickets at the ground compared with just nine for spinners.
Australia has won 10 of its 14 Tests at Newlands overall, but South Africa has won three of the last four meetings between these teams at the venue.
The ground also carries considerable historical significance for Australia, having been the scene of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal. Steve Smith returns to Newlands for the first time since that incident, adding another storyline to an already intriguing contest.
Both teams have the bowling resources to take 20 wickets. The deciding factor may be which batting lineup handles the new ball more effectively.
South Africa vs Australia 3rd Test Best Bets
Australia may have won the first Test comfortably, but the second match exposed some worrying weaknesses that cannot be dismissed as a one-off.
The tourists have relied heavily on individual batting performances rather than partnerships, and their middle order has struggled to provide consistent support.
South Africa, meanwhile, has demonstrated its ability to recover from difficult positions. The Proteas were 5-97 in Gqeberha before Bavuma and the lower order transformed the match. The home side also has the advantage of playing on a surface that should suit its fast bowlers, particularly Rabada and Jansen.
Australia certainly has the bowling attack to win, and Green's return is a welcome boost. However, until the Australian batting lineup shows greater resilience, South Africa deserves favouritism.
Our 3rd Test Best Bet
South Africa to Win
$1.91 (2 units)
Marco Jansen – Top South Africa First Innings Wicket Taker
Jansen has arguably been South Africa's most influential player across the series.
The left-arm quick has taken 10 wickets in the opening two Tests, including 5-33 in Australia's first innings at Gqeberha.
His height, bounce and left-arm angle should make him particularly dangerous at Newlands, where the fast bowlers have enjoyed considerable success in recent years.
Rabada is also priced at $3.30 and is an obvious threat, but Jansen's recent performances make him our preferred selection at the same odds. This is a competitive market with several possible winners, but $3.30 is worth a small investment.
Prop Bet
Marco Jansen – Top SA Wickets 1st Inns
$3.30 (1 unit)
Temba Bavuma – Top South Africa First Innings Runscorer
Bavuma's magnificent 179 in the second Test was one of the defining performances of the series.
The South African captain showed tremendous concentration under pressure, rescuing his side from a difficult position and setting up the eventual victory.
He faces stiff competition from Aiden Markram ($5.50), David Bedingham ($6.75) and Ryan Rickelton ($7.00), but Bavuma has demonstrated that he is capable of batting for extended periods against Australia's quality pace attack.
The major risk is that Newlands offers significant assistance to the bowlers, making it difficult for any batter to settle.
Nevertheless, at $5.30, Bavuma is worth a speculative half-unit selection to lead South Africa's first-innings scoring.
Prop Bet
Temba Bavuma – Top SA Runs 1st Inns
$5.30 (0.5 units)
