South Africa vs. Australia Third Test: Newlands Preview and Viewing Guide

Updated October 26, 2026: South Africa and Australia are set for the third and deciding men’s Test at Newlands in Cape Town. The series is level at 1–1, and the latest team news has changed Australia’s squad since earlier previews. The toss, final playing XIs, and result are not yet available before the scheduled start.

Match details at a glance

• Match: South Africa vs. Australia, third Test
• Scheduled dates: Tuesday, October 27 through Saturday, October 31, 2026
• Venue: World Sports Betting Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town, South Africa
• Scheduled first ball: 10:30 a.m. South African Standard Time (SAST, UTC+02:00) on October 27; 08:30 UTC on the same date
• Series: Tied 1–1 after two Tests
• Competition: The match is part of the ICC World Test Championship
• Viewing in Australia: Kayo and Fox Cricket; ABC and SEN also have radio coverage of the series

Cricket South Africa’s schedule lists the third Test at Newlands, while Cricket Australia’s fixture page and match preview confirm the October 27–31 dates and 10:30 a.m. Cape Town start. The UTC conversion is 08:30 on Tuesday, October 27, so the date does not change when converting from Cape Town time. See the Cricket South Africa fixture listing, Cricket Australia series schedule, and Cricket Australia’s third-Test preview before making plans.

Why the Newlands Test matters

This is the final match of the three-Test series, and both sides arrive with one win apiece. Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. South Africa answered in the second Test at Gqeberha with an innings-and-31-run victory. The results leave the series undecided heading into Cape Town, but they do not predict how the third match will unfold. The ICC’s October 26 report also identifies the fixture as the third and final WTC contest in the series.

The match contributes to the World Test Championship cycle, a competition that tracks results across designated Test series. For a viewer following only this game, the clearest first step is to keep track of the innings score and wickets. The broader WTC standings add context, but they do not replace the match result. The ICC lists the current Men’s Test and 2025–27 World Test Championship playing conditions for readers who want the formal rules.

Venue, dates, and start time

Newlands is in Cape Town, the host city for the series decider. Cricket South Africa’s fixture listing names Newlands Cricket Ground, and Cricket Australia’s series page gives the same venue. The scheduled playing window is five days, from Tuesday, October 27 to Saturday, October 31. Those are the planned dates; a Test can finish before the fifth day if a side wins, and the full schedule does not guarantee five complete days of play.

The scheduled start is 10:30 a.m. in Cape Town, labeled South African Standard Time (SAST, UTC+02:00), on Tuesday, October 27. That is 08:30 UTC on October 27. Use the location and date with the time: the UTC figure is a conversion of the same first ball, not a separate start. The two labels help readers following from elsewhere identify the same scheduled first ball.

Squad updates before the toss

The player lists below are the current squads reported by Cricket Australia, not confirmed playing XIs. A squad can include more players than the eleven selected to take the field. Cricket Australia’s latest match-eve update says Australia will make at least one change: Nic Maddinson and reserve wicketkeeper Sam Harper have been released from the squad. The report says Matthew Renshaw is a strong possibility to open, but that is a selection outlook rather than a confirmed role. Steve Smith is due for a fitness test on his neck at match-eve training. Cameron Green and Josh Inglis are available for selection, with Inglis still recovering from a broken finger and in contention as a batter.

South Africa squad

Temba Bavuma (captain), 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, and Kyle Verreynne.

Australia squad

Pat Cummins (captain), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and Beau Webster.

These lists reflect the latest available squad update as of October 26. They do not settle who will play. Check the Cricket Australia team update and the official match center, fixture CA:39992 for confirmed selections after the toss.

Where to watch or follow the match

Cricket Australia says the series is broadcast in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket, with ABC and SEN providing radio coverage. These are Australia-specific options; television and streaming rights differ by country. If you are elsewhere, check the broadcaster or rights holder for your location instead of assuming an Australian service will carry the match. The Cricket Australia series viewing guide lists those Australian options.

If you cannot watch live, use the Cricket Australia match center for the scorecard, toss, team lists, commentary, and result. For anyone attending in Cape Town, check the venue or Cricket South Africa’s official information for the specific day’s ticket and entry details before traveling. The five-day schedule is not a single continuous event: each day has its own play and entry arrangements.

How to read a Test scorecard

Test cricket is the longest standard international format. Each team has two innings, or turns to bat, and a match is scheduled for up to five days. A side can win by scoring enough runs and dismissing its opponent in the required innings. If the scheduled time ends before either team secures a win, the match can be drawn.

A score such as 185/4 means the batting team has scored 185 runs and lost four wickets. A wicket usually records a batter’s dismissal; ten dismissals normally end an innings, although a captain may declare an innings closed earlier. A lead is the difference between the teams’ combined runs at that point. If one team bats last, its target is the number of runs it needs to win.

Always read the score with the innings and match situation. A total of 185 can mean one thing early in the first innings and something very different when a side is chasing a fourth-innings target. A partnership is the runs scored while two batters are together; it can show whether a team is stabilizing or losing wickets quickly. The official scorecard helps distinguish a live score update from a final result.

A simple plan for match day

• Before the start: Confirm that the published start time is still current, then check the official match center for the toss and final XIs. Do not treat a squad list or predicted lineup as a selection.
• At the start: Note which side won the toss and chose to bat or field. This gives context to every score update that follows.
• During play: Track the innings, runs, wickets, and whether the batting team is building a lead or chasing a target. If you miss a session, the scorecard is a concise way to catch up.
• At the end of a day: Check the official scorecard and match report for the confirmed position. A day’s close is not the same as a match result.

For an international audience, keep both time labels in your calendar: 10:30 a.m. SAST (UTC+02:00) in Cape Town and 08:30 UTC on October 27. The dates October 27–31 are the scheduled playing days, not a promise that the match will use all five.

What is confirmed and what is still pending

As of October 26, the confirmed details are the third Test’s scheduled dates, the Newlands venue, the 10:30 a.m. SAST start (08:30 UTC), a 1–1 series score, and the latest squad lists. Australia’s released players and the reported fitness and selection updates are also known, but none of those reports is a final playing XI. The toss, both teams’ selected elevens, and the final result remain pending before play. Follow the Cricket Australia match center for those match-day facts and use the linked Cricket South Africa schedule for the host board’s fixture listing.