Australia have made changes to their squad following the crushing defeat to South Africa in the second Test of the series. The makeshift opener Nic Maddinson, along with back-up wicketkeeper-batter Sam Harper, have been sent home ahead of the third Test of the series. Maddinson scored 56 runs from four innings, including two ducks. Once again, Australia are set to try a new opener or make changes to the batting order to go back to Matt Renshaw for the third Test. But the main issue for Australia is the availability of Steve Smith, who sustained a neck issue in the second Test.
Will Smith play Newlands Test?
On October 25, Smith batted in the nets for just 20 minutes. He got throwdowns and batted without a helmet due to a neck issue. A call on his availability may be made close to the game. Head coach Andrew McDonald believes that the veteran batter will be ready for the third Test.
"He hasn't had the start he would like in this series. He’s got a bit of a neck issue going at the moment. You guys would have seen that play out in the nets," said McDonald.
"Today he’ll progress (his training) – he didn’t have his helmet on yesterday as well, so … hopefully he progresses to (facing) bowlers.
"We feel like it’s going to be a pretty steep progression ... he should be available."
Who will open after Maddinson’s departure?
Maddinson had returned to the Test arena after a long gap of a decade. His inclusion was questioned by many former cricketers who felt that Maddinson is not good enough. Then, the team management opted to use him as an opener instead of using his ability to tackle the spinners in the middle overs. The only silver lining of his return was a quickfire 48 in the second innings of the Test series opener. But Australia’s revolving door for openers continues, and Renshaw is expected to open alongside Travis Head with Cameron Green regaining match fitness.
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Is Maddinson’s Test career over?
Maddinson will return home, but he won’t be out of action. He will jump straight back into Sheffield Shield. Starting October 30, he will don the New South Wales jersey against Tasmania in Hobart. But is it the end of the road for Maddinson?
"I think performance-wise… would you like more runs in it? Yes. So that's okay," Chairman of selectors, George Bailey said. "It did allow us to set the rest of the team up the way that we wanted to whilst we were working with the group we have, yes.
"We always talk about what do we see when we see players that are best. I think you saw a glimpse of that in the second innings in Durban. So there's a message for him. With him going home, I wanted to be clear to him it wasn't a stopgap and that's it and it's a discard.
"The same reasons and process we worked through to get him to be on the table for here and ultimately to play, they'll be the same questions that we'll ask across the home summer to India as well."
Similarly, Harper, who received his maiden call-up after a ton against India A, will turn up for Victoria against Queensland. Harper was with the team as Josh Inglis' cover and was expected to take over the gloves if Alex Carey isn't available. Inglis has recovered from a fractured finger and is available for selection for the Test series decider.
Labuschagne on the bench or one last chance/dance?
A Test half-century has eluded Marnus Labuschagne for 14 innings. Labuschagne has been nervous in the 30s and often thrown his wicket away. In the first Test, he registered twin 37s. In the second Test, he was dismissed cheaply. It was his dismissal on 39 that hurt the team most while following on. He had played himself in and then committed a blunder by attempting to clear the mid-on fielder against off-spinner Simon Harmer when the ball wasn’t there to hit.
"I don't know if I've got anything further to add than I think everyone's said over the last [period of time]," Bailey said. "We've seen some good things. Is there a block at the moment around the 30s? Yes. [He's] still contributing in terms of his ability to get through a number of balls.
"So it's a decision around what does that look like if he gets through [to the 30s] again, what does it look like for the collective and is it helping others around him [and] the team get a result that we ultimately want?"
Lyon or Boland?
The burning question is whether Australia go into the third Test with either Scott Boland or Nathan Lyon. Boland had taken a fifer. He batted as a nightwatchman in both innings. He frustrated Proteas bowlers in the second innings by scoring 40 runs from 166 balls. His 40-run knock is the second-highest score by an Australian batter in the second Test.
On the other hand, Lyon’s services were missed when skipper Temba Bavuma launched a counter-attack with help from Marco Jansen and Harmer. Skipper Pat Cummins said that he will take the call based on conditions in Cape Town. Irrespective of who gets a chance, it will be a tough call. There is also an out-of-the-box call of replacing Josh Hazlewood with Lyon.
The last time Australia and South Africa played a Test in Cape Town, Lyon and Hazlewood bagged five wickets each. Starc was least impressive of the pacers with two wickets in the game.
South Africa vs Australia Test squads -
South Africa Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.