Scott Boland's strong performance has left Australia's selectors weighing a difficult choice for the third Test in Cape Town. Boland took five wickets in the second Test in Gqeberha and batted through two nightwatch sessions. Captain Pat Cummins praised his efforts and said he could not have done more. Selectors must now decide whether to play four seamers or return to three quicks and Nathan Lyon, with Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc the likely players to make way. Newlands has favoured seamers in the past, which could also keep Lyon on the bench.
Melbourne Renegades bowler Jason Behrendorff will miss the entire BBL|16 season after undergoing shoulder surgery. The 36-year-old is the fourth most prolific bowler in Big Bash history, with 145 wickets. He said he has a clear plan with the medical team and aims to return to full fitness. The Renegades have confirmed they will sign an injury replacement. Tom Rogers is set to return from his own shoulder injury, while Brendan Doggett and Will Sutherland are expected to take on more work.
Harry Hoekstra took another wicket on the morning of day three of the Sheffield Shield match in Hobart. His dismissal of Ben McDermott left Tasmania at 5 for 75. Hoekstra has taken seven wickets in the match so far, including 5 for 46 in the first innings. Victoria needs to win after a poor showing in the first round against South Australia. The Tigers were building a lead, which was approaching 150 runs.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Mitchell Starc has taken his 450th Test wicket, dismissing South African Wiaan Mulder at St George's Park in Gqeberha in October 2026. The wicket was confirmed on review after Mulder's top hand appeared to touch the bat before the ball lobbed to Matthew Renshaw at second slip. Starc is the 10th bowler in Test history to reach 450 wickets, the fifth fast bowler to do so, and the most prolific left-armer of all time. The milestone followed his 400th wicket in Jamaica in 2025, a figure he reached in his 100th Test.
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.
Harry Hoekstra was hit on the helmet by Tasmania paceman Mitch Owen in his first over facing, bringing the team doctor onto the field. Hoekstra recovered and scored 10 runs before being dismissed. Victoria trailed Tasmania's first innings total of 241 after making 199 in reply. Hoekstra took 5 wickets for 46 runs off 20 overs, though he dropped an outfield catch. Victoria will hope he repeats the performance in Tasmania's second innings at Bellerive Oval.
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.
Scott Boland has bowled Australia to a strong position in the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha. The 37-year-old took four wickets in the blustery conditions, lowering his Test bowling average to 18.08. Boland was only told he would play minutes before the toss. He said his one-format approach and the support of coaches and teammates have helped him stay effective. Australia dropped spinner Nathan Lyon to bring him into the side.
Queensland paceman Cameron Gannon took 5-42 to dismiss South Australia for 203 on the opening day of their Sheffield Shield match at Adelaide Oval on Monday. The 37-year-old returned to Queensland after six seasons with Western Australia. South Australia's Jake Lehmann made 62 and skipper Nathan McSweeney 54, sharing a 93-run partnership. Queensland finished day one on 2-63, with Hugo Burdon unbeaten on 39.
Australia's fast bowlers gained the upper hand on a rain-affected second day of the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha. Scott Boland took four wickets for 31 runs as South Africa closed at 5-96. Captain Temba Bavuma remained unbeaten on 41 after a fightback with Ryan Rickelton. Matthew Renshaw's reflex catch ended Rickelton's innings on 31 late in the day. Better weather is forecast for the final three days, with hopes of a result on a pitch expected to improve for batting.
Victoria paceman Harry Hoekstra continued his strong first-class start with a key performance in Hobart on Monday. Batting first on a first-day pitch at Bellerive Oval, Tasmania lost early wickets to him, including Jordan Silk with his third delivery. Hoekstra claimed his second five-wicket haul in only his second Sheffield Shield match. Cricket Victoria said the bounce of the pitch suited his crafty bowling. By lunch, Tasmania were 7 for 45.
Williamstown Imperials have made a strong start to the Victorian Turf Cricket Association McNamara Shield season. On Saturday, they bowled Grand United out for 75 in 22.2 overs. Kendrick Hatton took 5-5 from 5.2 overs. The Imperials then reached 0-79 in 11.1 overs, winning both games so far by 10 wickets. Playing coach Tom Burton said the side wants to stay at the top after missing out on the grand final last year. The Imperials face PEGS this Saturday.
Rain has almost entirely washed out the first day of Australia's second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha. Scott Boland struck twice in two balls during a brief spell of play, leaving South Africa at 2-20 after 12.2 overs. Boland was included ahead of spinner Nathan Lyon, giving Australia four seamers on a green pitch. Play stopped again after only a handful of overs following rain. Marques Arkerman will resume on 5 not out alongside captain Temba Bavuma on 4 not out on day two.
Melton local Jessica Yeo will compete for gold at this year's national Special Olympics, held in Melbourne from 19 to 23 October. The 36-year-old took up bowling at nine after friends and neighbours invited her to a Thursday night local league. Her mother, Lorraine Smith, said she saw talent in her daughter at 15. Ms Yeo is competing in the Special Olympics for the second time and hopes to return with gold. The event, held at the Albert Park sporting precinct, features athletes across 12 sports and marks 50 years of the Special Olympics in Australia.
AU Now app
Your suburb’s news, alerts and Shorts — in one app
Alerts, Shorts and your saved stories — free on Google Play.
Josh Hazlewood took his best Test figures of 6-49 as Australia beat South Africa by 214 runs at Kingsmead in Durban. Hazlewood ended a long partnership between Aiden Markram and Wiaan Mulder on the final day. Captain Pat Cummins praised Hazlewood's consistency and his willingness to bowl whatever the team needs. Hazlewood has returned from a string of injuries, and since 2023-24 he has taken 73 wickets at an average of 15.52 when fit. Australia's busy schedule includes further Tests against South Africa, New Zealand, India and the Ashes.
Australia secured a clean sweep of the three-match ODI series against Bangladesh with an eight-wicket win. Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland scored 137 runs for the third wicket to chase down Bangladesh's total of 172. Megan Schutt was named player of the match and the series after taking 4-16 and restricting Bangladesh to 172. Schutt now has 28 wickets in 14 ODIs at Allan Border Field, the most of any bowler in history.
Spotswood has signed former Northcote paceman Michael Edwards, one of the bigger signings of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket off-season. Edwards will open the bowling alongside Dan Schuppan, who took 40 wickets last summer. Captain Jakson Knight described Edwards as a huge inclusion. The club, which won its first VSDCA flag in 2022-23, also recruited left-arm off-spinner Jacob Pawlowicz and regained Taylor Tatterson. Martignago is fit again after a knee injury, and Knight and Martignago starred in a seven-run win over Strathmore on Saturday.
Koonwarra-Leongatha RSL cricketer Harry Hoekstra performed with distinction on his first Sheffield Shield appearance for Victoria against South Australia at the Junction Oval. He top scored with 45 in Victoria's first innings and finished with figures of 6/103 with the ball. Victoria lost the match by an innings. Hoekstra said he was pleased with his personal performance. His next four-day match is against Tasmania at Ninja Stadium in Hobart, starting Monday, October 19.
