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Last Updated on 33 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey
The deciding Test against South Africa could not have started worse for Australia. Pat Cummins’ decision to bowl first in glorious batting conditions in Cape Town did not pay early dividends, with the hosts racing along to 140/0 by lunch.
Marques Ackerman, playing just his second Test, had his way with the loose Australian attack. He raced to 82 off 75 balls with 11 fours and two sixes in the first session. He was eventually dismissed for 95 off 94 balls, stumped off the bowling off Nathan Lyon.
Aiden Markram was also fluent for the most part, hitting 56 off 87 balls before lunch. Australia opted to play their main four bowlers and leave Scott Boland out, only to bowl both sides of the wicket and err short on a regular basis. With runs flowing, Travis Head shelled an easy chance off Markram in the 23rd over to sum up an awful opening session for Australia.
“It was an irrational decision,” said Kerry O’Keeffe on Fox Cricket regarding Australia’s decision to bowl first. Markram and Ackerman regularly drove on the up in a sign of how good the pitch is for batting.
Boland, who was comfortably Australia’s best performer in Gqeberha, was left out for Nathan Lyon. Instead of opting to bowl last on a dry pitch, Cummins put South Africa in and turned to the offspinner in the 11th over. Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins had extracted no movement in the air or off the surface with the new ball.
Fans on social media were all over it, labelling the decision as Cummins’ “Nasser Hussain moment.” Hussan infamously opted to bowl first at the Gabba in 2002 before Australia piled up 364/2 on day one. If South Africa continue on their merry way, they could rack up a similar score on the opening day at Cape Town.
“This feels like Nasser in Brisbane decision,” said Michael Vaughan on X (formerly Twitter). Fans also shared similar sentiments.
“Australia picked Lyon expecting the pitch to assist spin on Days 4 and 5, yet somehow decided to bowl first. To make matters worse, they dropped Boland, their best bowler from the previous match,” wrote one fan.
“Cummins clearly doesn’t trust his batsmen. This is a flat deck and he opted to bowl,” wrote another.
Here are some of the reactions to Australia’s decision at the toss.
This feels like Nasser in Brisbane decision … #JustSaying #SAvAUS
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) October 27, 2026
Pat Cummins having his very own Nasser Hussain moment
— Adam Bell 🇳🇿🇮🇹 (@AdamKerrBell) October 27, 2026
Update: this is a disaster #SAvAUS https://t.co/08y8LVH5fH
— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) October 27, 2026
Is this Australian cricket’s Nasser Hussain moment?
— Christy Doran (@ChristypDoran) October 27, 2026
So defensive from Pat Cummins.
Blue skies, flat wicket.
Proteas win the opening half hour: 0-24.
Why the F$#@ would u bowl on that track in Cape town? OmG. We've just lost the series. Who decided that????? WTF????@cricketcomau @CricketAus #SouthAfrica
— Chris Smith (@chrissmithonair) October 27, 2026
Cummins choosing to bowl first goes past Sandpapergate as Australian cricket's most embarrassing moment at Newlands. #SAvAUS
— Anthony Leach (@ahleach) October 27, 2026
#SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/pLGFmxPDCc
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) October 27, 2026
Its looking a massive brain explosion to bowl first. The pitch didn't look a nightmare before the toss but its done nothing. Zero faith in the batting line-up & Aust will have to bat last on a pitch that will spin. Double whammy from Aussies. They need to 🙏 for wickets #RSAvAUS
— Bernie Coen (@berniecoen) October 27, 2026
Pat Cummins wins the toss, bowls first, Aiden Markram dumps his fifth ball into the stands for six on what looks like a road. You'd worry wouldn't you
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 27, 2026
That toss by decision by Cummins incongruent with selection no?
— Tom O'Neil (@thomasjameoneil) October 27, 2026
Bring in Connolly and Lyon and then bowl first on a pretty brownish deck? They would've known there was a pretty high chance they bowl first if that's what they were going to do.
South Africa sent in
— 🎙️QUENTIN HULL (@QuentinHull) October 27, 2026
Lyon bowling the 11th over of the Test
Heads have to roll for this.
— Matthew Stone (@stone1_matthew) October 27, 2026
McDonald, Bailey, Cummins.
Cummins’ captaincy when under pressure has been found wanting a few times.
McDonald and Bailey have lost the faith of almost everyone on here with selection.
They would’ve all been involved in this decision.#SAvAUS
Cummins clearly doesn't trust his batsmen. This is a flat deck and he opted to bowl 🤦
— tea_addIct (@on_drive2306) October 27, 2026
Bowling first here was insanity. Absolutely nothing in it for the bowlers.
— Neal Gardner (@Nealbackup) October 27, 2026
Interesting decision to bowl Australia
— Tony Steele (@tds122) October 27, 2026
Australia chose to bowl first. Let's all laugh at Australia. Hahahahahahahahahahaha… #SAvAUS
— Nikhil Mehra (@TweetinderKaul) October 27, 2026
Starc bowling round the wicket in his 3rd over is concerning.
— Nathan Watson (@N_Watson_) October 27, 2026
Bowling first in this Test is probably the dumbest thing an Australian team has ever done in South Africa#SAvAUS
— These Daves (@TheseDaves1) October 27, 2026
Australia picked Lyon expecting the pitch to assist spin on Days 4 and 5, yet somehow decided to bowl first. To make matters worse, they dropped Boland, their best bowler from the previous match.
— India Spectator (@IndiaSpectator1) October 27, 2026
The Australian management deserves an Oscar for such brilliant decision-making.
At the time of writing, South Africa are 158/1 in the 33rd over.
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