Williamstown CYMS and Footscray United both lost close matches in the Isaac Howarth Shield. The CYs were defeated by Sunshine after a rain delay, while Maribyrnong Park St Marys edged out the Bulldogs. Seddon dominated, bowling out the Tigers for 58 and winning by eight wickets. The Druids secured their first win of the season against Aberfeldie. In the senior division, Yarraville Club beat St Albans, and Altona North's match with Airport West St Christopher’s was abandoned.
Captains Pat Cummins and Temba Bavuma have spoken ahead of the third Test at Newlands in Cape Town, which is level at 1-1. Cummins said life has changed a lot since he was 12th man at the 2011 Cape Town Test, when Australia were bowled out for 47. Bavuma, who grew up in the Langa township, said he had felt doubts during his early years and that South Africa are motivated to right the result of their last series in Australia.
Steve Smith abruptly left a training session in Cape Town after a neck issue continued to trouble him. Captain Pat Cummins said Australia had yet to settle on its XI for the series decider, describing Smith's fitness as the last piece of the puzzle. Smith was seen grimacing and stretching his neck during nets, and he spoke with coach Andrew McDonald and selection chair George Bailey before leaving. The 37-year-old has battled several ailments during the series. Cummins said the team remained open to all options.
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Australia are expected to keep Marnus Labuschagne in the side for the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. He has not scored a century in his past 47 Test innings. Chief selector George Bailey said there appears to be a block around scores in the 30s, but Labuschagne is still helping the team. Teammate Usman Khawaja suggested the problem may be mental rather than technical. Matt Renshaw is expected to open in place of the dropped Nic Maddinson.
Australia is set to make at least three changes to the side beaten by an innings and 31 runs in Gqeberha for the series decider in Cape Town. Channel 7 reports that Beau Webster and Scott Boland will be replaced, while Nic Maddinson has already been dropped. Nathan Lyon, Cameron Green and Cooper Connolly are set to come in. Matthew Renshaw is expected to open alongside Travis Head. Steve Smith must pass a final fitness test on his neck but is expected to play.
Retired Australian batsman Usman Khawaja has revealed he played his entire 88-Test career while living with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic autoimmune condition. Speaking on ABC's Australian Story, he said he was diagnosed at 22 after intense knee pain, and that he feared he was going to die. Khawaja kept the diagnosis secret, even from close teammates. He went on to play more than 130 times for Australia over 16 years, retiring after the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG in January. He said others with the condition could achieve much too.
Taylors Lakes have claimed their first win of the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association north-west season. The Lions bowled Strathmore out for 163 in the 65th over after batting strongly on day one. New skipper Shijit Chandran Poovathingal scored a century and took 4-31 with the ball. Coach Peter Brasher said the team worked well as a unit despite the weather. The Lions next face Brunswick in a one-day match.
Gerald Coetzee will make his Test return for South Africa in the third match against Australia at Newlands. The 26-year-old replaces Anrich Nortje, who injured his groin after bowling only 3.3 overs in the second Test. Captain Temba Bavuma said Coetzee's consistent pace above 140kph earned him the spot. It will be Coetzee's first Test in almost two years. Keshav Maharaj misses out again, with Simon Harmer retained as the spinner.
Former Brisbane Heat captain Jess Jonassen will miss the entire WBBL|12 season with a hip complaint, hoping to return in 2027. Hobart Hurricanes batter Danni Wyatt-Hodge is also out with a calf injury. The Hurricanes have signed Sri Lanka international Chamari Athapaththu as her replacement. Jonassen, 33, missed four matches last season after shoulder surgery. The tournament begins Thursday with a double-header at Junction Oval.
New Brisbane Heat captain Georgie Redmayne will lead the side after taking over from Jess Jonassen, who captained the team for six WBBL seasons. The Heat finished last and did not win a match in 2025. Redmayne said the team must adjust a few things to succeed in the T20 format, and hopes to return to its earlier winning ways. She also said she plans to return to opening the batting with Grace Harris, her partner for much of their time together at the top of the order.
Australia has released Nic Maddinson and back-up wicketkeeper Sam Harper from the Test squad ahead of the Cape Town series decider against South Africa. Matthew Renshaw now looks likely to open the batting after Maddinson passed double figures only once in four innings. Steve Smith faces a fitness test on his neck, while Marnus Labuschagne must hold his No.3 spot as Cameron Green and Josh Inglis return from injury. Selectors meet on Monday to finalise the team, with Nathan Lyon a strong contender to return to the side.
The Sydney Sixers have launched their season at North Sydney Olympic Pool, marking the club's 15th anniversary. The side will play four home games at North Sydney Oval over the summer. The Summer Session and Community Round returns after last year's record crowd of 5,023 fans, with live entertainment and double-header matches. Captain Ash Gardner said the team hopes to turn North Sydney Oval into a fortress after struggling there for some time. The club is also visiting local schools, with a clinic planned at Neutral Bay Public School.
Australia'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.
Meg Lanning has returned to lead the Melbourne Stars in WBBL|12, taking over from Annabel Sutherland, who stepped down after two seasons. Lanning said she was happy to take on the role if it helped the team win. The Stars have added England spin-bowling allrounder Charlie Dean, while South Africa's Marizanne Kapp has withdrawn from the season. Richard Pyrah takes over as head coach from Andy Christie, and Lanning and Rhys McKenna are expected to open the batting.
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.
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Point Cook Warriors beat local rivals Point Cook Centrals in the Victorian Turf Cricket Association Roy Picone Shield on Saturday. The Warriors bowled the Sharks out for 94, with captain-coach Shafraz Mohamed taking four wickets. Halwathurage Jayasinghe top scored with 45 as the Warriors chased down the runs, finishing 4-95. The win made it three from three for the Warriors, who are one of three undefeated teams. Their next match is a two-day game against Moonee Valley this weekend.
Corio batsmen Ben Strachan (108) and Bradley Jones (105 not out) led their side to 5/361 against Bannockburn on Saturday with a 136-run partnership. Anthony Grace added 88, leaving the Devils well placed in GCA Division 3. Rain shortened some games and washed out two others across the weekend's local cricket. North Geelong opener Ned Cooper will resume on 116 against St Peters in Division 1. Daniel Harrison took five wickets for Newcomb & District across the top grades.
Shadab Khan scored an unbeaten 113 and shared an 89-run last-wicket stand with Haris Rauf as Pakistan beat England by one wicket. Pakistan was 9-154 before the pair's partnership turned the chase. The stand is the largest 10th-wicket partnership to win an ODI. England had scored 241 all out after Ben Duckett made 105. England coach Brendon McCullum said the players were gutted. The result sends Pakistan into the tri-series final after its third straight win.
Josh Inglis is in contention to play as a batter in the third Test against South Africa in Cape Town, despite recovering from a broken finger. The 31-year-old, Australia's first-choice limited-overs wicketkeeper, has had a stop-start Test career, playing only five of the last 20 Tests. Inglis hopes to replicate Matthew Renshaw's successful middle-order return if selected. He has been adaptable, batting in various positions, and aims to secure a consistent role in the team.
Australia begins the series-deciding third Test against South Africa at Newlands on Tuesday, a ground linked to one of the darkest days in its cricket history. Former captain Steve Smith, central to the 2018 Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal, has averaged a little over 20 with the bat on this tour. Travis Head said Smith would be fine and that the team supports him. The series is level at 1-1. South Africa will be without fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who injured his groin, and captain Temba Bavuma said the hosts will pick their replacement based on conditions.
