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Last Updated on 8 minutes ago by Charbel Coorey
On a day billed as a potential classic with all results possible, Australia offered barely a whimper in their chase of 288. Pat Cummins’ team were blown away by South Africa, with the match over at lunch with the visitors collapsing to 60/7. They were eventually bowled out for 111 to lose by 176 runs, with Simon Harmer taking scarcely-believable figures of 6/16 off 21.1 overs.
There are no prizes for guessing that the Proteas would be fired up with the series on the line. A series against Australia almost always brings the best out of them. Also, Temba Bavuma has instilled a never-say-die attitude, which has been a common theme in this team over the past two years.
However, Australia’s batting in the first session on day five at Cape Town was deplorable. Matt Renshaw, Australia’s rock for most of the series, was out caught down the legside for a golden duck, and it went downhill quickly from there.
Marnus Labuschagne’s Test career looks over as he looked nervous and all at sea once again. He was out LBW leaving to Kagiso Rabada, ending a miserable match where he faced just eight balls. His stretch without a Test century now extends to 49 innings, and it is very possible that he doesn’t get another chance to break that drought. Put bluntly, he hasn’t been getting close anyway.
Travis Head was out soon after, driving loosely and edging to slip to hand Rabada a third wicket. The dismissals only continued to get worse, with Cameron Green inexplicably calling Josh Inglis through for a non-existent run and Alex Carey attempting to reverse sweep at 42/4 to a Simon Harmer half volley that could have been bunted back past the non-striker.
In another damning turn of events, Cameron Green looked all at sea against Harmer in the first session, and didn’t seem to want a bar of it with a number of singles avoided. Whether that was to protect Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins against the fast bowlers is another question, but both are more than capable with the bat.
Captain Bavuma eventually switched Harmer to a different end in the second session, and he dismissed a clueless Green first ball. Australia’s number four didn’t face a ball from Harmer from the 16th to 39th over.
Gerard couldn't believe Cameron Green's dismissal and the build-up to it 😬
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) October 31, 2026
Listen to every ball on SEN and the SEN app.#SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/jelRcAo4Dq
The series took a turn in Gqeberha, and it was Australia’s shoddy batting that was the catalyst. While Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer led a superb fightback with the bat, all the rain meant all Australia needed was to avoid the follow-on by scoring 226.
Their horrid 99-all-out, described as “gutless” by Vernon Philander, put the match in South Africa’s hands. The Proteas are too determined to decline such a lovely invitation from the Australians.
Fast forward to Cape Town, and it was more of the same. Australia put on a good show on a flat pitch in the first innings to earn a lead, but crumbled again when the pressure was on. The decision to bowl first was rightly criticised, but blaming that (poor) call alone ignores the batting failures especially when South Africa knuckled down and fought hard on day four.
Speaking on Kayo Sports, Mark Waugh, Kerry O’Keeffe and David Warner were scathing of Australia’s batting display in the first session on day five at Newlands.
“Just got to throw the ball down to the other end, that was a terrible two hours of batting. It was immature, it was terrible,” said Waugh. O’Keeffe also didn’t mince words, calling the batting “mindless” and “negative”.
However, it was the recently-retired Warner who was particularly critical, calling the performance un-Australian and disgraceful.
“I’m just upset. It’s terrible. It’s un-Australian. There’s no fight whatsoever. It’s disgraceful,” Warner said.
“288 [target] to win the Test match. You can win a series. It’s on the line and this is the way that they’re playing. It’s deplorable. The batters have let the bowlers done all series. Matt Renshaw showed fight in Durban, but I think the batters have been disgraceful.”
Australians are very passionate about Test cricket, and it is clear in the reactions online.
Australia on the take.
— Sami Dowd (@samidowd) October 31, 2026
Possibly the most gutless performance ever seen by an Austalian sporting team.#SAvAUS
Australian sports fans are all angry now. The huge positive out of this poor series, is that it’s shown again for the 100th time, just how much we care about Test cricket still.
— David Lithgow (@lithgowflashman) October 31, 2026
Just a terrible terrible leave. Feel for Marnus, but now it’s time to move on#SAvAUS
— Smokie Dawson (@smokiedawson) October 31, 2026
At least this will be over quickly, no late night!
— Patrick Gray (@PatrickM_Gray) October 31, 2026
It's almost impressive how badly the team has been managed on this tour, especially in this test. Bringing in Maddinson, sticking with the boys club, dropping Webster, bowling first, moving Renshaw around the order.
Let’s not forget, the Aussies lost a Test to Bangladesh at home just a couple of months ago. The fact they were even in this series is remarkable. But enough is enough. It’s time for change. #SAvAUS
— DJM (@d_j_m10) October 31, 2026
Surely the selectors need to be marched as well as some players. #SAvAUS
— Sandy (@sandyhunter2) October 31, 2026
The selectors have a lot to answer for this series – plucking Maddinson out of nowhere, blindly persisting with Labuschagne, dropping Boland after his second Test heroics. Hard to see logic to any of it
— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) October 31, 2026
Obviously bitterly disappointed to go down like this, but a drubbing of this nature was long overdue.
— Neal Gardner (@Nealbackup) October 31, 2026
A lot of mediocrity has been masked by some generally good results. Not anymore.
Such a disappointing end to a great Test series. Time for change- Marnus out of chances, Patterson in and Boland has to be in XI. Maddinson/Connolly two bizarre selections this series #savaus
— brad davidson (@braddavo) October 31, 2026
The re build of the Australian cricket team should start from tomorrow but you can bet it won't.
— Barrie Carter (@BarrieCarter6) October 31, 2026
Marnus, Cummins, Lyon, Bailey, find your resumes fellas.
— Jack Quigley (@Jack_Quigley) October 31, 2026
Also Connolly, not for extended poor performance like the other but just because he’s nowhere near good enough.
This is an utter disaster.
— Menners 🎙 (@amenners) October 31, 2026
Hopefully it forces change. #SAvAUS #cricket
Aus going nowhere in this chase but it’s where they go more generally from here that will be fascinating. They’ve had enough gun players to paper over cracks and win series for some time now but this feels like a real turning point. SA have been magnificent.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) October 31, 2026
We need a bat summit.
— Adam Peacock (@adampeacock3) October 31, 2026
Chaired by Sir Allan Border, Sir Greg Chappell and Sir Steve Waugh.@keepinitcricket
Aussies deserve to lose this. Purely for the lack of integrity with the selectors and Cummins, let alone this embarrassment of a 2nd innings
— Sammy (@Borgus17) October 31, 2026
Let’s hope this loss leads to someone genuine change #SAvAus
Where to here for Australia?@tommorris32 believes there'll be consequences.#SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/YfYYOOLrof
— SEN Cricket (@SEN_Cricket) October 31, 2026
Australia’s batsmen are a bunch of fragile mentally weak hangers-on that the selectors just can’t let go.
— Scoota 🇦🇺🤙16🏆 (@easymmmkay) October 31, 2026
It’s time to let go#AUSvSA
They’re totally getting what they deserve. Will they learn their lesson? I think not. We’ve seen them bat like this time and time again. But they keep picking the same team so there are no consequences 🤷🏼♀️ @CricketAus
— Kristin (@Kristin542) October 31, 2026
#SAvAUS
— Al Prior (@AlrantAl) October 31, 2026
Its a rout.
Now, finally, I hope some heads roll from this🤬🤬#cricket#TestCricket
If George Bailey and Andrew McDonald don’t do the honourable thing and quit immediately, then both should be sacked before the plane leaves South Africa…
— RayCapogreco (@RayJCapo79) October 31, 2026
This team needs a complete overhaul before December. Pathetic.
— Eleanor 🖤🖤 (@Eleanor1998_) October 31, 2026
Australia’s next Test will be against New Zealand, starting on December 9 in Perth. They have lost three of their past five Tests, failing to win either series against Bangladesh and South Africa.
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