Get the appAustralia's batters are determined to turn starts into big scores ahead of Tuesday's third and deciding Test against South Africa in Cape Town. The tourists are yet to pick their line-up after a heavy defeat in Gqeberha, where they were bowled out for 99. Alex Carey admitted the batting group has failed to convert recent starts. South Africa's wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton said the Proteas will target Marnus Labuschagne's run of starts.
Footscray captain Dylan Brasher scored 162 as the Bulldogs reached Dandenong's target of 362 with six wickets down, winning their first match of the Victorian Premier Cricket season. Brasher shared a strong partnership with Henry Pearson, who made 55, while Aiman Nadeem scored 59 not out. Travis Dean also made a half century. Brasher's innings was his 15th premier first XI century. Coach Dale McDonald said the Bulldogs face Carlton in a two-day match over the next two Saturdays.
Cameron Green has impressed in training nets at Newlands ahead of Australia's third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. The all-rounder is not yet cleared to bowl after a rare abdominal injury suffered in an ODI. He is expected to resume a specialist batting role, possibly away from the No.5 position. Matthew Renshaw has strong claims on that spot after his strong showing in Durban. The Test starts on Tuesday.
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Get the appSam Konstas has made a strong case for a return to the Australian Test side after two domestic centuries in a week. The 21-year-old scored 149 off 131 balls for NSW against Western Australia in the One-Day Cup at the WACA on Saturday. Days earlier he made 151 not out in a Sheffield Shield draw with Western Australia. His Test record is modest, with a 16.30 average from five matches, and his highest Test score remains 60, made on debut against India in 2024. NSW next play Tasmania in the Sheffield Shield in Hobart from Friday.
Travis Head has called for Australia's batsmen to build stronger partnerships ahead of the third Test in Cape Town. He said the side has relied on one batter per innings rather than a collective effort. Head made 121 in Gqeberha, but Australia was bowled out for 99 in the innings that led to their loss. Head said the team has struggled to find partnerships in recent weeks, despite facing strong attacks. Head also said batting order makes little difference to his approach, and he expects his place as opener to stay for now.
Australia lost the second Test in Gqeberha by an innings and 31 runs on day five, after collapsing with the bat. The defeat leaves the series level and sets up a decider in Cape Town. Steve Smith's aggressive shot in the second session gave South Africa the breakthrough, and the writer says his form is now a concern. Questions are also raised about the team's selection, including whether Beau Webster should make way for Cameron Green if Green is fit.
South Africa beat Australia by an innings and 31 runs in the second Test at St George's Park in Gqeberha, levelling the series at 1-1. Travis Head scored 121 and Scott Boland made 40 as the visitors resisted on the final day. Rain delayed the start of play, but Australia's hopes faded once Head and Boland were dismissed. Pat Cummins said the team was well short of its best. The final Test starts on Tuesday at Newlands in Cape Town, with the series on the line.
Ashleigh Gardner hit a blazing 84 from 45 balls in the second T20I against New Zealand, helping Australia win by 40 runs at North Sydney Oval. It was her highest T20I score since February 2020. Gardner said the innings gave her confidence ahead of a busy summer, including her second season leading the Sydney Sixers and the Women's Premier League in India. She said she is adapting to her No.5 role and wants to play with freedom. The third T20I is on Thursday, October 22.
Temba Bavuma scored 179 runs from 334 deliveries on day three of the second Test at Gqeberha, lifting South Africa to 9-425 declared. The innings lasted almost 10 hours across three days and was his highest Test score. A record eighth-wicket stand with Simon Harmer, who made 82, and a 132-run partnership with Marco Jansen shifted the match. Australia ended the day one wicket down after Kagiso Rabada struck early.
NSW left-hander Kurtis Patterson has posted his first century of the Sheffield Shield season, adding to his form in the opening round. Patterson finished on 117 not out against Western Australia. Former teammate Moises Henriques said Patterson is among Australia's most experienced batters for the Test against South Africa. Patterson said he had spoken with national selector George Bailey but that scoring runs was the only way to improve his chances. He has not played a Test since his last appearance in the Baggy Green more than seven years ago.
South Africa has taken control of the second Test against Australia. Captain Temba Bavuma scored 179 on day three, helping his side reach 9-425 declared after starting the day at 5-97. Marco Jansen made 85 and Simon Harmer made 82 as the lower order added crucial runs. Scott Boland took five wickets for Australia, while Mitchell Starc dismissed Bavuma. Australia finished the day at 1-3, with Travis Head and Scott Boland at the crease.
East Belmont sits top of the Geelong Cricket Association Division 1 ladder after wins over North Geelong and Lara. Captain Dylan Moroney praised the side's disciplined bowling and fielding. James Lidgett made 90 in a 233 total against Lara at Bisinella Oval. Lachie Molyneaux took 3/21 and helped dismiss Lara for 103. The Lions next face South Barwon in a two-day match on Saturday.
Lethbridge's Sam Giles took five wickets for seven runs on Saturday, 17 October, after taking eight the week before. Corio's Anthony Grace took 6 for 28 from nine overs and scored 130 from 81 balls, guiding the Devils to a win over Little River. Round results across the Geelong Cricket Association and Bellarine Peninsula Cricket Association were also reported, including East Belmont's win over Lara and Torquay's total of 238 against Geelong West.
Virat Kohli and Babar Azam are compared across Test, ODI and T20 cricket. Kohli has scored more Test and ODI runs and holds seven Test double centuries, while Azam has scored more T20I runs. Kohli is second only to Sachin Tendulkar for international centuries and has more World Cup runs. Both have won domestic T20 league titles, and Kohli has more individual ICC awards.
Hoppers Crossing finished day one of its clash with Coburg on 8-318 in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west. Brett Smith made 112, his second straight season with a century in round two. Captain-coach Simon Lambert said the side showed a much better effort than in round one against Brunswick. Justin Goegan finished 42 not out. In Werribee, the Snowdogs were bowled out for 160 against St Bernard's OC, and Jonathan Burton took 4-2.
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Get the appTaylors Lakes batters bounced back on Saturday after a poor previous week, finishing day one at 8-297 against Strathmore in the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west season. New captain Shijit Chandran Poovathingal was the standout, scoring 119 off 197 balls after being moved back to number three. Coach Peter Brasher praised the batting effort, which included 68 from Mayank Sharma. Rain was possibly forecast for day two, and the bowling remains a concern.
Australia's tail batters changed the course of the first Test in Durban. From 6-124, the final four wickets added 266 runs. Matthew Renshaw and Nathan Lyon shared a 134-run ninth-wicket stand, the highest for Australia at that wicket since 1894. Josh Hazlewood said staying with a batter makes it harder for fielding teams to dislodge the tail. Australia went on to win the match by 214 runs. The second Test begins at St George's Park in Gqeberha on October 18.
South Africa coach Shukri Conrad says his batters were beaten mentally in the 214-run Test loss to Australia in Durban. He said batters threw their wickets away and urged them to learn from Aiden Markram's patient 75 in the fourth innings. Kagiso Rabada is expected back from a hamstring tear for the second Test in Gqeberha on Sunday. Opener Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs and Kyle Verreynne could face changes after their dismissals. Conrad said the side needs to get better without reacting in a knee-jerk way.
Matt Renshaw took his maiden Test wicket, having Temba Bavuma caught at short leg as South Africa slipped to 4-102 at stumps in Durban. South Africa still need 319 runs to win the first Test against Australia. Earlier, Renshaw scored 82 and Pat Cummins hit an explosive 32 from 12 balls, helping Australia declare at 6-314. Aiden Markram remains unbeaten on 45, with Wiaan Mulder on 5 not out, setting up a final day of play.
Matt Renshaw scored 190 from 397 deliveries in Durban, rescuing an Australian first innings that had slumped to 6-124. His innings lifted Australia to 390 and set a new personal best for the left-hander. Renshaw blunted South Africa's spin attack with the sweep and reverse sweep, then held firm against the quick bowlers. Partnerships with Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon added further stability. The innings was seen as a blueprint for disciplined, long batting in Test cricket.