Australia have won the toss and have elected to bowl first against South Africa in the third and deciding Dafabet test at YesPlay Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday morning.
The hosts come into this match on the back of a remarkable innings and 31 run victory at St George's Park in Gqeberha last week. All the more remarkable was that almost two full days were lost to inclement weather.
The victory though does not overshadow the top-order batting woes for the Proteas, having crashed to 110 for six before captain Temba Bavuma (179), Marco Jansen (85) and Simon Harmer (82) helped South Africa declare their first innings on 425 for nine.
Jansen then demolished the Australian line up, taking 5-33 as Pat Cummins' men capitulated for just 99. Being forced to follow on, Travis Head struck a hard-fought 121, along with Scott Boland's career-best 40, but the efforts were in vain as the Proteas dismissed Australia for 295 to seal victory and square the three-match series.
Australia's 214 run victory in Durban set the tone for an interesting series. The margin of victory was in no small thanks to Matt Renshaw, who score 190 in Australia's first innings and then followed that up with an 82 in the second.
This test will in no doubt be in the balance as each side has won two from the last four games here at Newlands, with Australia having won 10 out of the 14 tests to be played under the shadow of Table Mountain.
Surprisingly, there have been no draws between the two sides and spin has taken a beating under the Cape sun, averaging over 50 per wicket since 2020.
South Africa had to make a forced change to the victorius side from Gqeberha, with Anrich Nortje sitting out due to a groin strain. The Proteas brains-trust made the call to include Gerald Coetzee, who has taken 14 wickets in four test matches at an average of just over 23.
Former Australian captain, Steve Smith, failed a late fitness test and will miss the game while opener Nic Maddinson has been released from the squad and heading home to play in Australia's Sheffield Shield competition on Friday.
Renshaw will move to open the innings with Josh Inglis coming in and Nathon Lyon replacing Boland.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.
AUSTRALIA: Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (capt), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.
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