SA vs AUS 2026/27, SA vs AUS 2nd Test Match Report, October 18 – 22, 2026

Australia 99 (Smith 28, Jansen 5-33, Mulder 2-14, Rabada 2-33) trail South Africa 425 by 326 runs

Marco Jansen took his second five-for in his last three Tests as Australia, who were bowled out for 99 in response to South Africa’s first-innings total of 425, were made to follow-on for only the second time since 1988. Australia were shot for under 100 for the first time in 69 innings since they were bowled for 91 by India in Nagpur in 2023.

The 99 that Australia managed was their fourth-lowest Test total against South Africa.

South Africa did their work despite the wind drying the pitch and making it easier for batting, and them being a bowler down after Anrich Nortje left the field with a suspected groin injury in his fourth over. Nortje was confirmed as unavailable for the remainder of the first innings, and with South Africa bowling again on the same day, he is unlikely to take part in the remainder of the match.

Australia’s top-order problems have been well documented, and they faced a stern challenge of pace, accuracy and aggression as South Africa threw everything they had at trying to force a result. Steven Smith was Australia’s only batter to get past 14. In the process, he became the 12th batter to 11,000 Test runs, and the third Australian after Ricky Ponting and Allan Border.

South Africa began bowling with a strong westerly breeze, a drying wind which usually aids batters. As Kagiso Rabada searched for his inswinger, Travis Head scored the first runs of the morning, a sumptuous drive through point. His next boundary was off the outside edge as Rabada got closer.

At the other end, Jansen needed no easing in to the nightwatcher Scott Boland. His first ball was hard length and nipping away, Boland chased it, and gave new designated wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton a simple catch moving to his right.

Rabada continued to look for the perfect ball, and cranked it up to a top speed of 154.5kph in his next over, which was dangerous but not deadly. Head had another boundary in that over too, and was starting to look comfortable. But when he got forward to a Jansen ball that nipped back and was struck on the pad, South Africa thought they had a chance. Jansen’s appeal was muted but Simon Harmer convinced Temba Bavuma to review, and replays showed the ball was hitting the top of middle stump.

Australia were 22 for 3 in the first half hour of play, and South Africa had their tails up.

An intriguing battle between Marnus Labuschagne and Jansen ensued, in what must have been in Afrikaans. Labuschagne won the opening exchanges when he drove Jansen through mid-off twice in an over, but eventually lost the battle, though not at Jansen’s hands. Nortje, in his first over, drew Labuschagne into a drive and induced an edge but the wicket belonged to Harmer, who took a stunning one-handed catch to his left at gully. Labuschagne has now gone 44 innings without a century, and averages 25.72 since December 2023.

At 45 for 4, South Africa would have been comfortable that the new ball had done its work, and switched Rabada for Wiaan Mulder after Rabada bowled six overs. With minimal swing available, Mulder’s focus was to hold his end, and bowling back of a length and stump to stump. Drinks were taken with the score on 48 for 4, and South Africa in the ascendency.

But barely five minutes later, the mood dampened for them severely when Nortje walked off the field mid-over. He held his shirt over his face as he walked off, and Mulder offered commiserations, suggesting it may be serious. Nortje bowled 40 overs in the Durban Test after not playing any red-ball cricket for more than three-and-a-half years, and was expected to sit out this match but South Africa could not resist the express pace.

Harmer completed the over, and will have to carry a massive workload as South Africa rotate around three seamers, though they also have the option of Aiden Markram’s offpsin.

With Smith and Matt Renshaw bedding in, and half an hour left for lunch, Rabada was brought back and almost delivered. Smith edged him short of Markram at second slip, and needed treatment on his neck immediately afterwards. Smith lived dangerously, and in the next over, flashed at a ball but missed. In scenes reminiscent of the 2018 battle between Rabada and Smith, there were words and smiles but no contact, as was the case eight years ago.

While Rabada was stirring the pot, Jansen took the lid off. Renshaw, Australia’s best batter from the first Test, opened the face of the bat to steer Jansen to Harmer at wide third slip. Harmer took another excellent catch, low off the ground to continue what has been a good Test for him. Two balls later, Alex Carey got a thin edge to a Jansen ball he tried to steer to deep third, and Rickelton took his second catch.

With tension simmering, Rabada beat Beau Webster with a beauty that straightened and almost took the edge. Jansen then drew two false shots from Smith and hit him on the pad but he survived that and Rabada’s last over to take Australia to the break.

Webster was off the mark in the first over of the second session when he drove Jansen over cover point off the 11th ball he faced. He never looked entirely comfortable, though, and was given out two overs later as he tried to force Mulder away on the off side. Webster reviewed immediately, and successfully so. He lasted into the next over, when Jansen did him with extra bounce, and Aiden Markram, at second slip, pouched a smart catch.

Smith’s milestone, meanwhile, came with a single off Jansen. But he would have been more concerned with an ongoing neck issue that required treatment several times. Mulder increased Smith’s discomfort by jagging the ball back as Rickelton stood up to the stumps. One of those deliveries went for four byes; another cut Smith in half and bowled him.

Rabada changed ends to the Duck Pond, and Starc nicked off to give Rabada his 200th Test wicket at home. Mulder ended the innings when Pat Cummins miscued him to deep square leg, 56 minutes into the middle session.

Firdose Moonda is Cricinfo’s senior correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket

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