Sports · Cricket · 1 day ago
South Africa and Australia meet in Cape Town Test decider
South Africa and Australia meet at Newlands in Cape Town from October 27 to 31 for the final Test of their series.
Each team has won one of the first two matches, so the series is level heading into the decider.
Australia will keep the No.
1 Test ranking with a win, having held the top spot since May 2024.
A South African win would make them No.
1, a position they have not held since January 2016.
But South Africa would not lead the World Test Championship standings: a win would put New Zealand first, South Africa second and Australia third.
The match is expected to draw the series’ biggest crowd, after disappointing attendances in Durban and Gqeberha.
The match is scheduled to run for five days, and both teams are expected to make changes to their line-ups.
South Africa and Australia are scheduled to meet at Newlands in Cape Town from October 27 to 31, 2026, in the deciding Test of their series.
The No. 1 Test ranking is at stake: a South Africa win would put them top for the first time since January 2016, while Australia would remain leaders if they win.
In the World Test Championship standings, a South Africa victory would put New Zealand first, South Africa second and Australia third.
The first two Tests featured major batting and bowling performances, and both teams won despite bad light in Durban and rain in Gqeberha.
The article says the series has been fiercely competitive but has not repeated the off-field controversies of the teams’ 2018 series in South Africa.
- Who
- South Africa and Australia.
- What
- They are scheduled to play the deciding Test of their series, with the No. 1 Test ranking at stake.
- When
- October 27 to 31, 2026.
- Where
- Newlands, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Why
- The match decides the Test series and could affect which team holds the No. 1 Test ranking.
South Africa
Australia
Ranking outcome
South Africa
A win would put South Africa top for the first time since January 2016.
Australia
A win would keep Australia at No. 1, a position it has held consistently since May 2024.
World Test Championship standings
South Africa
A win would leave South Africa second and put New Zealand first.
Australia
A win would leave the standings order unchanged, with Australia ahead of New Zealand and South Africa.
Australia and South Africa played a Test series in South Africa that the article says was marked by off-field controversies.
Australia began a period of consistently holding the No. 1 Test ranking, according to the article.
South Africa and Australia each won, despite bad light in Durban and rain in Gqeberha.
The deciding Test is scheduled to be played at Newlands in Cape Town.
- Venue
- Newlands, Cape Town
- Match dates
- October 27–31, 2026
- Ranking at stake
- No. 1 Test ranking
- South Africa’s last time at No. 1
- January 2016
- Australia’s run as No. 1
- Consistently since May 2024
- World Test Championship standings after a South Africa win
- New Zealand first, South Africa second, Australia third