Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 and can take a 2-0 advantage when the second Test begins at St George’s Park in Gqeberha on October 18. Play starts at 10am local time (7pm AEDT) and runs until October 22. South Africa must win this match, and both sides have plenty to weigh up ahead of it.
How to watch and listen
All matches in the series will be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket. Fans who prefer radio can tune in to ABC and SEN, which will both broadcast the series. Live scores are available in the Match Centre. Post-play news and reactions will be published on the CA Live app, and The Unplayable Podcast will release a new episode after each day’s play. Hosts Josh Schonafinger and Louis Cameron will recap the action and talking points from South Africa. The podcast is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart Radio.
Session times
The session times published for the first Test were as follows:
First session: 10am to 12pm local (7pm to 9pm AEDT)
Second session: 12:40pm to 2:40pm local (9:40pm to 11:40pm AEDT)
Third session: 3pm to 5pm local (12am to 2am AEDT)
An extra 30 minutes is available each day to complete the overs.
Full series schedule
First Test: Australia won by 214 runs in Durban.
Second Test: October 18 to 22, St George’s Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local).
Third Test: October 27 to 31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local).
Team news
South Africa have made one change to their squad from the first Test. Matthew Breetzke replaces Tristan Stubbs, who was dropped after one match. Breetzke scored a century against Australia in the ODI series in Durban and is all but certain to add to his two Tests. Kyle Verreynne will hand the gloves to Ryan Rickelton. Tony de Zorzi remains unavailable with a hamstring strain. All the bowlers have been retained, and Kagiso Rabada is firming for a return.
Australia have brought back Josh Inglis, who briefly returned home to Perth with a broken finger and appears to be meeting every benchmark in his return to full fitness. Cameron Green is the major watch as he recovers from an abdominal strain and races the clock to be available for the second Test.
Possible XIs
South Africa’s likely XI is Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee. All signs point to Rabada being fit for what is a must-win Test for the home side. Although Anrich Nortje bowled some hostile spells and some excellent deliveries, he is the logical player to make way after a heavy workload in his first red-ball match in over three years. Ackerman, a 30-year-old top-order batter who has dominated domestic cricket for several seasons, recently scored a double century for South Africa A and is expected to come in at the top of the order.
South Africa’s decision to pick two spinners was the major talking point before the first Test, and it backfired. Simon Harmer and Keshav Maharaj were both largely ineffective. Harmer could be the player to miss out if the hosts retain Nortje or select another seamer, with Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson all in the squad.
Australia’s likely XI is Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood. Australia were 6-124 in the first innings in Durban but then dominated the match. Every player outside the core of the side made runs. Maddinson scored 48, Webster made 39 not out in the second innings, and Renshaw dominated with 190 and 82. While Green and Inglis will push their cases, an unchanged line-up looks the safe assumption, particularly as Green is not yet at full capacity.
Players to watch
Kagiso Rabada is the South African spearhead and should return to the XI. His inclusion would give the Proteas attack a much-needed spark, and he is never afraid to get into the face of his opponents. His Test strike rate is phenomenal at a wicket every 39.5 balls, and it has been even better over the past four years at 36.6. He also has a sensational record against Australia, with 58 wickets at 21.39, including nine wickets (match figures of 9-110) in the World Test Championship final last year.
Alex Carey took another classic catch in Durban, a one-handed grab off Josh Hazlewood that broke a crucial partnership in the final innings. He has enjoyed excellent form with the bat over the past 24 months, but he has gone nine Test innings without passing 30. He will be as keen as anyone to spend time in the middle.
Local knowledge
St George’s Park has been the most spin-friendly Test venue in South Africa since the Covid pandemic, with spinners taking 40 wickets at 22.77 compared with 35 wickets at 34.17 for pace. This match, however, is uncharted territory for the venue. It is the earliest Test cricket has been played in the southern summer in Gqeberha and the first Test played here between mid-April and mid-November. Across the first-class scene over the past decade between September and November, pace bowlers have averaged a wicket every 26.94 runs, compared with 32.05 for spin.
Australia have a mixed record at the ground, with three wins and four losses from seven Tests. South Africa hold a two-match winning streak over Australia here, winning by 231 runs in 2014 and by six wickets in 2018.
Form guide and World Test Championship
The loss in Durban was the first under Temba Bavuma’s captaincy and only the second defeat in the past 10 matches for the World Test champions. Australia have now won 11 Tests since the 2025 World Test Championship final, including the big win in Durban.
The series is no longer 1-1 in the standings. South Africa’s loss in the first Test dropped them below New Zealand into third place on the table. Although South Africa lost a Test to Pakistan, their 2-0 series win over India has them well placed to qualify for the 2027 decider, with plenty of home Tests still to come. Australia need to keep banking wins. They have started strongly, but a few dropped games against South Africa, New Zealand or India would see them slide down the rankings.
Squads
South Africa’s second Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.