South Africa have confirmed their starting eleven for the third and deciding Test against Australia, set to begin at Newlands in Cape Town on October 27. With the series tied at 1-1, the Proteas will aim to clinch the contest on home soil.
Captain Temba Bavuma has made a single change to the side that secured an innings and 31-run victory in the second Test. Fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out with a groin injury, paving the way for Gerald Coetzee to return to the longest format after a near two-year absence.
Coetzee Returns in Place of Injured Nortje
Coetzee will make his first Test appearance since November 2024 after being named as Nortje’s replacement. Nortje sustained the groin injury during the second Test in Gqeberha after bowling just 3.3 overs in Australia’s first innings. The 26-year-old Coetzee has featured in only two first-class matches since his last Test outing, most recently representing South Africa A against Bangladesh A in August, where he claimed figures of 3/31 and 1/29 across two innings.
Bavuma explained that Coetzee’s additional pace and capacity to act as an enforcer made him the closest like-for-like replacement for Nortje. The right-arm quick was selected ahead of Corbin Bosch and Dane Paterson as South Africa seek to maintain their aggressive fast-bowling strategy. Coetzee rose to prominence during the 2023 ODI World Cup but has since battled a series of injury setbacks, including side strains, pectoral issues, and groin problems.
Harmer Retained as Sole Specialist Spinner
South Africa have retained Simon Harmer as their sole specialist spinner, leaving experienced left-armer Keshav Maharaj out of the XI once again. Harmer featured in the second Test and was preferred because his off-spin turns away from Australia’s numerous left-handed batters. Although Maharaj is South Africa’s leading Test wicket-taker among spinners with 220 dismissals, the team management has opted for a specific tactical matchup against Australia’s batting order.
Bavuma acknowledged that omitting Maharaj was a difficult decision given his longstanding contribution to the side. The Proteas levelled the series with a commanding victory in Gqeberha after Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs. As the reigning World Test Championship title-holders, South Africa will now aim to carry that momentum into the decisive encounter at Newlands.
South Africa playing XI for 3rd Test: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackermann, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada
Playing XI for Third Dafabet Test vs Australia #TheProteas skipper, Temba Bavuma, confirms the playing XI for tomorrow’s third and final Dafabet Test, with the series on the line at YesPlay Newlands.
One change for #TheProteas sees Gerald Coetzee coming in for Anrich… pic.twitter.com/lRZobnN0OQ
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) October 26, 2026