Australia vs South Africa — the rivalry resumes at St George's Park on Sunday. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Direct answer: Australia head into Sunday's 2nd Test against South Africa at Gqeberha with two open questions: Cameron Green still has to prove his fitness, and coach Andrew McDonald says the batting order is not locked — after the shock Durban experiment of Nic Maddinson opening and Matt Renshaw batting at No. 5 produced a 214-run win. South Africa, meanwhile, have already moved: Tristan Stubbs is dropped, Ryan Rickelton takes the gloves, and Matthew Breetzke is recalled.
What happened?
Speaking ahead of the second Test, which begins on October 18 at St George's Park, McDonald said the selectors are "open-minded" about the batting order and will decide based on the Gqeberha surface. In Durban, Australia surprised everyone: Maddinson — playing his first Test in nearly ten years — opened with Travis Head, while regular opener Renshaw dropped to No. 5 and played the innings of the match, 190 in the first innings and 82 in the second, as Australia crushed South Africa by 214 runs.
Green, the all-rounder whose balance Australia miss most, remains under a fitness cloud and still has to prove he is ready. His availability decides whether Australia can field five bowling options without weakening the batting.
The Waugh warning
Not everyone is enjoying the experiment. Former captain Steve Waugh has told the selectors to stop "messing around with the top order", saying it has not worked for two years, and that Renshaw should stay at No. 5: he has been successful there, he is comfortable there — pick and stick.
Newlands, Cape Town — the series finishes there from October 27. Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)
Conrad's message: composure, not panic
Across the dressing rooms, South Africa coach Shukri Conrad has urged his side to show composure rather than make knee-jerk changes after the Durban hammering — even though his selectors have, in fact, made changes, with Stubbs paying for scores of 32 and 1. "We obviously need to look at how we can improve the side without being knee-jerk in our reactions," Conrad said, adding the question is always whether a change "will make the boat go faster". Kagiso Rabada is expected to be fit, which transforms South Africa's attack, but Tony de Zorzi is out with a hamstring injury.
Ryan Rickelton — South Africa's new keeper for Gqeberha. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Our analysis
Here is my honest read. Australia can afford to experiment because they are 1-0 up and their bowling — Hazlewood took six in the second innings in Durban — wins matches on any surface. But Waugh has a point: a floating top order works until the day it doesn't, and Gqeberha, with Rabada back, is exactly the kind of place where a muddled order gets exposed in the first session. If Green is fit, Australia's balance is complete and they start favourites again. If he is not, South Africa's new-look side — hungrier, and stung — has a genuine opening. My prediction: a much closer Test than Durban, and the first two days decide it.
Next steps
The 2nd Test starts Sunday, October 18, at St George's Park, Gqeberha, with the series finishing at Newlands, Cape Town, from October 27. We will have the toss news, daily reports and the result on NajamSports as they happen — starting with how Australia won the 1st Test in Durban.
Sources
- TimesLIVE / Reuters — Australia open-minded about batting order, Green still to prove fitness for second Test, October 15, 2026 (McDonald and Steve Waugh quotes)
- Lokmat Times / ANI — "We need to show composure": Conrad urges South Africa to bounce back, October 15, 2026
- ESPNcricinfo — South Africa squad changes for the 2nd Test (Stubbs dropped, Breetzke recalled, Rickelton to keep)