![Temba Bavuma celebrating [Source: AP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1793005807410_TembaBavumabatting.jpg?type=hq)
Temba Bavuma celebrating [Source: AP]
The South Africa vs Australia three-match Test series now hangs in the balance after the Proteas bounced back in the 2nd Test with dominance, castling the visitors away after their first win.
The 3rd Test match is set to be played at Newlands, Cape Town, on October 27, with the match going live for fans from 2:00 PM IST. The clash will be a series decider, and both teams will be eager to field their best XI on the field to clinch the series.
South Africa have announced their playing XI for the 3rd Test.
Top and Middle Order: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham
Aiden Markram has featured in the two Test matches against Australia, and from the 3 innings he played, he bagged 123 runs at an average of 41.00.
He will be a solid opening option alongside Marques Ackerman. Although Ackerman was dismissed for just 6 runs in the last match, his exceptional performance in the Bangladesh A series will be enough to hand him another opportunity.
David Bedingham, meanwhile, will be the No. 3 option. David has been recently promoted up the order and averages 31.66 in the series so far. His familiarity with home conditions and ability to anchor a crumble would fit him in the South Africa Playing XI.
Middle Order and All-Rounders: Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder
Temba Bavuma, the skipper of the team, has been the highest run scorer of the series so far with 183 runs and his heroic 179-run stand in the 2nd Test at Gqeberha. He will be taking the position at No. 4 to battle through any top-order fall.
Matthew Breetzke will continue in his place at No. 5, although he has disappointed so far with only a 4-run outing. He packs the punch to go aggressive in times of need and can be a useful tool for the hosts to accelerate the game in the middle phase.
Ryan Rickelton, an exceptional T20 opener, will be responsible for anchoring the middle order if things go north. His hitting ability and a worn-down pitch later in the game give him an ideal position and time to gauge the game and deliver when it's needed the most.
Wiaan Mulder, another exceptional all-rounder option who has 72 runs in the series, will be crucial to sum up the all-rounder line-up. Notably, he is also the second-highest wicket taker of the series with 9 scalps and will be a solid option in the Playing XI for South Africa.
Bowlers: Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Gerald Coetzee
Marco Jansen will be leading the pace department of the team. The towering pace sensation bagged 10 wickets in the series so far, breaking multiple records, and would likely continue to do so in the 3rd Test as well.
Assisting him will be Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee. Coetzee has come in place of Anrich Nortje, who has been ruled out of the final Test.
Simon Harmer will be the primary spin option for the Proteas alongside supplementary spin bowler Aiden Markram. Keshav Maharaj, meanwhile, could also be an inclusion in the Playing XI; however, the track at Cape Town will decide whether the Proteas should be spin- or pace-heavy.
South Africa Playing XI vs Australia - 3rd Test, 2026
Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson
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