South Africa have confirmed their playing XI for the third and final Test of the series against Australia, with Gerald Coetzee replacing the injured Anrich Nortje for the decider that begins on Tuesday at Newlands. Coetzee returns to the format for the first time in almost two years, having last played against Sri Lanka in Durban in November 2024. He is the only change to the side that defeated the visitors by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha a few days ago, as Nortje was ruled out of the third match with a groin injury sustained during the second Test.
Last match’s debutant Marques Ackerman will continue to open alongside Aiden Markram, while Ryan Rickelton will continue in the wicketkeeper’s role after being handed the gloves in the previous game. Kyle Verreynne continues to sit out, as does Keshav Maharaj, both of whom were dropped for the second Test.
The Proteas levelled the series 1-1 in Gqeberha after heroic efforts from captain Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer with the bat in the first innings. From 110/6, South Africa reached 425/9 declared after Bavuma scored a career-best 179, while Jansen and Harmer made 85 and 82 respectively. The bowlers then starred, with Jansen picking up a five-wicket haul in the first innings to dismiss the visitors for 99 and enforce the follow-on. Despite a century from Travis Head, South Africa did enough to bowl Australia out for 295 on the final day and win the match by an innings and 31 runs to level the series heading into the Cape Town decider.
