South Africa vs Australia, 3rd Test, Oct 27, 2026: commentary
| South Africa | 329 | 82.3 ov |
|---|
South Africa are 329 all out
Day 1
Stumps
At the crease
S Harmer0 (7)
Partnership0 runs · 0 balls
Last wicket329/10 K Rabada
Current rate3.99
Recent commentary
Over 83. no runs. Bowler: Mitchell Starc. South Africa: 329/10(rr 3.96)
What the reporting says
Rabada hurt his hamstring in winter training and missed last month's ODIs, having played no cricket since the IPL in May.
Tony de Zorzi has been withdrawn from South Africa's extended 18-player squad with a hamstring concern; Rabada played a two-day intra-squad match.
South Africa will keep all 17 players together rather than cutting to 15, giving them seven quicks to choose from.
Rabada has not played red-ball or first-class cricket since the Pakistan tour last October, having missed the India Tests with a rib injury.
South Africa sit second in the 2025-2027 WTC table with 10 Tests left: eight at home up to January and two in Sri Lanka.
Cameron Green misses Australia's first Test against South Africa in Durban with an abdominal strain.
Facts taken from the stories linked beside them, each from a sentence in the original.
SAF 1ST
- 82.3
Over 83. no runs. Bowler: Mitchell Starc. South Africa: 329/10(rr 3.96)
- 82.3
OUT! L.B.W. Mitchell Starc to Kagiso Rabada. Out-swinging length ball, to leg on the back foot driving, hit pad. That brings us to Stumps on Day 1, with South Africa bowled out for 329. The Proteas made a flying start, with Aiden Markram scoring 78 and Marques Ackerman narrowly missing a century with a superb 95. David Bedingham contributed 50, while Marco Jansen added a valuable 52. However, Australia fought back brilliantly late in the day, with Mitchell Starc leading the charge. Starc finished with a sensational six-wicket haul, triggering a late collapse to dismiss the final six batters in quick succession. Australia will take confidence from that late surge heading into Day 2. Join us tomorrow for the live action.
- 82.2
Mitchell Starc to Kagiso Rabada. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the back foot defending, missed for no runs, fielded by Carey.
- 82.1
OUT! Bowled. Mitchell Starc to Gerald Coetzee. In-swinging length ball, down leg side on the front foot driving, hit pad. A magnificent five-wicket haul for Starc! Australia's pace spearhead delivers again.
- 82.0
Over 82. 1 run. Bowler: Pat Cummins. South Africa: 329/8(rr 4.01)
- 81.6
Pat Cummins to Simon Harmer. Out-swinging length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot shoulders arms, left for no runs, fielded by Carey.
- 81.5
Pat Cummins to Simon Harmer. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, Played to silly mid off for no runs, fielded by Head.
- 81.4
Pat Cummins to Simon Harmer. Out-swinging length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot shoulders arms, left for no runs, fielded by Carey.
- 81.4
Wide Pat Cummins to Simon Harmer. Out-swinging length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Leave, left for 1 run, fielded by Carey.
- 81.3
Pat Cummins to Simon Harmer. In-swinging half volley, to leg on the front foot flick, Missed (Leg Side) for no runs, fielded by Carey.
- 81.2
Pat Cummins to Simon Harmer. Out-swinging length ball, wide outside off stump on the front foot Leave, left for no runs, fielded by Carey.
- 81.1
Pat Cummins to Simon Harmer. Length ball, wide outside off stump on the back foot shoulders arms, left for no runs, fielded by Carey.
- 81.0
Over 81. 3 runs. Bowler: Mitchell Starc. South Africa: 328/8(rr 4.05)
- 80.6
OUT! Bowled. Mitchell Starc to Marco Jansen. In-swinging yorker, off stump on the front foot driving, missed. An absolute beauty! The inswinging yorker sneaks through and crashes into the stumps!
- 80.5
Mitchell Starc to Simon Harmer. Back of a length, down leg side on the back foot working, hit pad to gully for 1 run, fielded by Connolly.
- 80.4
OUT! L.B.W. Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton. Out-swinging half volley, middle stump on the front foot flick, hit pad. Right on cue! Starc gets the new ball and produces a wicket.
- 80.3
Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the back foot cutting, missed for no runs, fielded by Carey.
- 80.2
Mitchell Starc to Marco Jansen. Back of a length, middle stump on the back foot driving, Played to deep point for 1 run, fielded by Lyon.
- 80.1
NEW BALL. Mitchell Starc to Ryan Rickelton. Out-swinging length ball, outside off stump on the front foot cutting, mis-timed to deep cover for 1 run, fielded by Inglis.
- 80.0
Over 80. 1 run. Bowler: Nathan Lyon. South Africa: 325/6(rr 4.06)
- 56.4
OUT! Caught. Mitchell Starc to Wiaan Mulder. Short, down leg side on the back foot pulling, top edge in the air uncontrolled, caught by Carey. Mulder departs for a duck without troubling the scorers!
- 56.2
OUT! Caught. Mitchell Starc to David Bedingham. Back of a length, down leg side on the back foot pulling, top edge in the air uncontrolled to fine leg, caught by Hazlewood. Great anticipation from Hazelwood behind the ropes, and he takes the catch!
- 51.1
OUT! L.B.W. Cooper Connolly to Matthew Breetzke. Stock length ball, off stump on the front foot defending, Played. Brilliant review from Australia, and it pays off!
- 45.2
OUT! Bowled. Nathan Lyon to Temba Bavuma. Off break length ball, outside off stump on the front foot defending, missed. An absolute beauty! Bavuma is beaten, and the ball rattles the stumps.
- 44.4
OUT! Caught. Josh Hazlewood to Aiden Markram. Seaming in back of a length, outside off stump on the back foot pulling, mis-timed in the air uncontrolled to fine leg, caught by Starc. Starc settles under it and takes a comfortable catch!
- 31.4
OUT! Stumped. Nathan Lyon to Marques Ackerman. Off break length ball, wide outside off stump down the track Slog, missed, by Carey. What a knock from Ackerman, but the maiden century slips away by five runs!