South Africa brings Coetzee into 1–1 Australia decider

South Africa captain Temba Bavuma confirmed on Oct. 26 that Gerald Coetzee will replace injured Anrich Nortje for the third Test against Australia at Newlands starting Tuesday, Daily Maverick said.

The sports article said the series is tied at 1-1 after South Africa followed a 214-run defeat in Durban with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha last week.

A Test is cricket’s longest international format, played over as many as five days. The third match in Cape Town is a decider, with South Africa seeking back-to-back home series wins over Australia for the first time since 1970.

Coetzee has played four Tests and has not appeared in the format since 2024. Bavuma framed the choice as the closest role-for-role replacement for Nortje, whose pace gives South Africa an attacking option in short spells.

“He is probably the closest guy in terms of like-for-like to Anna (Nortje), in terms of the role Anna plays in the bowling attack as the enforcer,” Bavuma said.

“Gerald does have a bit of extra pace,” Bavuma said. He added that Coetzee had stayed with the squad and had been building his workload before the Newlands match.

The rest of South Africa’s side is unchanged from the Gqeberha Test. Bavuma made 179 there after South Africa slipped to 12 for two, a position that left the innings exposed before the captain’s recovery.

Australia enter Newlands with selection issues of their own. Opener Nic Maddinson has been sent home after struggling in the first two Tests, including a 33-ball duck, the cricket term for a batter being dismissed without scoring.

Steve Smith has not yet been cleared because of a neck problem, Australia coach Andrew McDonald said. “We’re confident that he will be available,” McDonald said.

Marnus Labuschagne’s form also remains under scrutiny. He has not made a Test hundred since 2023 and has scores of 14, 39, 37 and 37 in this series.

Australia may revisit its bowling balance after leaving Nathan Lyon out of the second Test. Recalling Lyon, a specialist spinner, would probably require dropping a seamer, a pace bowler who tries to move the ball after it lands on the seam; Scott Boland was identified as the most likely candidate despite being Australia’s best player in the second Test.

South Africa’s concern is batting support for Bavuma. Marco Jansen, an all-rounder, has 146 runs in the series at an average of 48.66, compared with Aiden Markram’s 123 at 41, Ryan Rickleton’s 33, David Bedingham’s 95 and Wiaan Mulder’s 72 at 24.

Newlands selection checks

At Tuesday’s toss at Newlands, the checkable item for South Africa is whether Coetzee is listed in the XI as Bavuma said, with the rest of the side unchanged from Gqeberha.

Australia’s team sheet on Tuesday will show whether Smith’s neck issue has cleared in time and whether Cameron Green and Josh Inglis both play, which would leave all-rounder Beau Webster out.

The same Tuesday selection announcement will show whether Australia recalls Lyon and changes the pace attack after omitting him from the second Test.