The Guardian
Carey and Inglis counterpunch to put Australia on top in South Africa 28 October 2026 at 20:12

Carey and Inglis counterpunch to put Australia on top in South Africa

28 October 2026 at 20:12

Keepers rebuild the innings to reach 330-4 at the close
Green sparkles but Labuschagne duck must be the end

If Cape Town’s first day was a rollercoaster, the second was some more sedate form of transport, though it continued with ups and downs fitting its mountainous backdrop. Twice, South Africa produced double strikes to stall promising Australian positions; twice the Australians rebuilt. Finally, Josh Inglis and Alex Carey pushed Australia in front, 330 for four to South Africa’s all out 329, ready to surge on through day three with those six wickets left in hand.

While Travis Head was there, Australia’s first session threatened to match South Africa’s the day before, when Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman had piled on 140 against a bewildered attack. Head threw his hands at width, mixing luck with skill for seven boundaries. His new foil Matthew Renshaw showed contrasting temperament for the opening role, leaving and defending the new ball with the clarity he had shown in the middle order in Durban, underlining why he was the original candidate to replace Jake Weatherald at the top before the selectors’ brief and ill-fated Nic Maddinson excursion.

The Guardian
Marco Jansen belongs to a great tradition but top all-rounders are hard to find 28 October 2026 at 14:00

Marco Jansen belongs to a great tradition but top all-rounders are hard to find

The Guardian

By: Daniel Gallan

28 October 2026 at 14:00

South African stands out, not just because of his height, but England and Australia now find themselves looking for an equivalent

If you were to bioengineer a cricketer in a laboratory, which attributes would you give them? You would make them tall, with long limbs and a whiplash action to extract steep bounce. Add speed, movement both ways and a left arm to offer a point of difference. With the bat, make sure they can whack sixes but also go down the gears when an innings starts to unravel. For an added trait, have them catch meteorites in the outfield and the cordon.

You might end up with Marco Jansen. At the start of the third Test, the 6ft 8in South African had taken 99 Test wickets at 20.81. His 85 against Australia at Gqeberha in the second Test came after South Africa had slumped to 110 for six before his counterattack helped turn a precarious position into an innings victory. Jansen is still developing as a batter, but his 25.66 average before this current Test understates his potential.

The Guardian
Australia reach 330-4, one run ahead of South Africa on the second day of the third men’s Test – as it happened 28 October 2026 at 19:05

Australia reach 330-4, one run ahead of South Africa on the second day of the third men’s Test – as it happened

The Guardian

By: Geoff Lemon (earlier) and Daniel Gallan (later)

28 October 2026 at 19:05

Inglis (85*) and Carey (51*) put on unbeaten 145 for the sixth wicket as Australia take a one run lead into the third day of deciding Test in Cape Town.

2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Renshaw 5, Head 0) All 12 balls so far have been faced by Renshaw, after that sixth-ball single. He carries on as he played in Durban, leaving wherever possible. Jansen does beat his edge at one stage, getting movement away, but Renshaw doesn’t follow the ball. When Jansen ends the over going short at the body, Renshaw gets gloves underneath it. Very organised defensive approach to the over.

1st over: Australia 5-0 (Renshaw 5, Head 0) Lovely bounce and carry from Rabada with the new ball. Two left-handers for him to aim at. The sun is shining again, the sky brilliantly blue, it looks a lovely day on the Cape. You’d best believe the mountain is hulking over the shoulder of the ground like a suspicious bouncer. Rabada doesn’t use the bouncer himself, comes around the wicket after a few balls but bowls a low full toss, and Renshaw with placement rather than effort deflects his square drive behind point for four, then takes one.