![Australia predicted Playing XI vs South Africa in 2nd Test [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1792223024787_AustraliaPlatingXIvsSA.jpg?type=hq)
Australia predicted Playing XI vs South Africa in 2nd Test [Source: AFP]
Australia outrightly dominated in the 1st Test against South Africa at Kingsmead. With the three-match series leading 1-0, Pat Cummins’ men will be confident again to take on the hosts on October 18 at St George's Park in Gqeberha.
Matt Renshaw was the hero of the last outing with his heroic century and consistent 2nd innings batting. The top-order batting was also decent, with the bowling unit executing their job perfectly as well. However, there are still a few tweaks that can improve the lineup for the visitors.
Hence, ahead of the South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test, let’s take a look at the best possible Playing XI for Australia.
Openers and Top Order: Nic Maddinson, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne
Opening batter Nic Maddinson, with his exceptional first-class batting record, is likely to retain his place despite a poor outing in the first match of the series. He was out for a duck in the first innings and followed it with a 48. However, Nic will be retaining his place with the lack of opening batters Australia has in the present squad.
Travis Head also had an awful outing in the first Test against the hosts, but the management will be showing faith in the batter who has an average of 31.62 against South Africa in Tests.
Marnus Labuschagne will come at No. 3 to continue in his usual place and conclude the top order of Australia’s batting lineup. In the first Test, he scored 74 runs from the 2 innings and is the third-highest scorer for Australia as of now in the Test series.
Middle Order And All-Rounders: Steve Smith, Matt Renshaw, Josh Inglis (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c)
Steve Smith, who scored only 52 runs from the two innings, will continue at No. 4 for the team. He will aim to bounce back as he has an average of 42.82 against South Africa in Test cricket.
Matt Renshaw, the hero of the first Test, will continue to anchor the middle order in case of any collapse, despite Cummins hinting at his opening role. At No. 5, Renshaw will be best to try to produce the same consistency that he has shown in the 1st Test with resilience.
Alex Carey’s place might be in danger at No. 6. He has scored only 38 runs in the first match and might get replaced by a like-for-like inclusion in Josh Inglis. Inglis has played 5 Tests for Australia and averages 26.28 while having one century to his name.
Another change in the batting lineup was possible with Beau Webster. Cameron Green, who has been finding a chance in the Playing XI since August, was an all-rounder like-for-like against Webster.
Webster’s batting performance has been average in the first match, and he also took only 1 wicket after bowling only 6 overs. However, given Green's injury and inability to bowl, it is likely that Beau Webster will retain his place in the Australia Playing XI.
Pat Cummins, meanwhile, will continue at No. 8. The captain of the team will lead with the bat and the ball whenever required. As a pace bowling all-rounder, Cummins is the second-highest contributor in runs in the ongoing series with 75 runs under his belt. He has also taken 4 wickets with the ball.
Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
For Gqeberha, Mitchell Starc will be leading the pace department with Josh Hazlewood and sufficient help from the all-rounder department from the likes of Cameron Green and Pat Cummins.
Notably, Josh Hazlewood is the highest wicket-taker in the ongoing series with 8 scalps and 6 maiden overs at an average of 12.87. He also took a 6-for in the second innings, which crumbled the Proteas to surrender.
Starc, meanwhile, has been on the quieter side with only 3 wickets to his name, while Cummins has 4 scalps. Meanwhile, Australia will be planning to continue their spin attack with the lone wolf Nathan Lyon.
Lyon, the veteran, has 58 wickets against South Africa in Tests while averaging 40.94. Hence, he will be responsible for taking over the middle phase of the game as the pitch wears down at St. George’s during Day 2 and Day 3. Additionally, Labuschagne and Nic can be occasional help with spin bowling.
Australia Playing XI vs South Africa in 2nd Test
Nic Maddinson, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matt Renshaw, Josh Inglis (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
.jpg?type=mq "When Was The Last Time West Indies Won A Bilateral Series In India?")
