South Africa vs. Australia Third Test: Newlands Start Time and Team News

Updated October 26, 2026: South Africa and Australia meet in the third and final Test at Newlands in Cape Town from Tuesday, October 27 through Saturday, October 31. With one win apiece, the series is level at 1–1. The scheduled start is 10:30 a.m. in Cape Town—South African Standard Time (SAST, UTC+02:00)—which is 08:30 UTC on Tuesday, October 27. Cricket Australia lists the match under fixture CA:39992. The latest team news rules Anrich Nortje out for South Africa, while Australia has released Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper from its touring squad. Final playing XIs have not been confirmed in the available official updates.

South Africa vs. Australia third Test: match details

Cricket South Africa’s current fixture listing names the ground YesPlay Newlands Cricket Ground, while other match materials use Newlands Cricket Ground. Both refer to the Cape Town venue. The schedule gives five possible playing days; it does not mean all five will necessarily be required. A Test can finish earlier if a result is reached, and the match center or broadcaster schedule is the place to check for any official change to the start or daily play.

The time conversion is tied to the event date and venue: Cape Town is on SAST, UTC+02:00, on October 27, so 10:30 a.m. there is 08:30 UTC. Cricket Australia’s preview also gives the Australian audience reference as 7:30 p.m. AEDT that evening. The match is scheduled for the same calendar date in Cape Town, UTC, and Australia.

Why Newlands is the series decider

Australia won the first Test in Durban by 214 runs. South Africa responded in the second Test at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, winning by an innings and 31 runs. Those results leave the three-match series tied at 1–1 going into Cape Town. A South African or Australian win at Newlands would give that team the series; a draw or tie would leave the series level.

The scoreline explains why this fixture matters, but it does not settle how the final match will unfold. The first two Tests produced emphatic wins for opposite sides. The practical question for followers is whether either side can turn that momentum into a third result. The schedule and the series position are confirmed; predictions about the eventual result are not facts and should not be presented as team news.

Latest squad and selection updates

Cricket South Africa’s announced squad for the third Test contains Temba Bavuma (captain), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, and Kyle Verreynne. Fast bowler Anrich Nortje is ruled out after sustaining a mild groin injury during the second Test. The squad announcement does not, by itself, confirm which eleven players will start.

Australia’s latest listed touring group is 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. Cricket Australia reported on October 26 that Nic Maddinson and reserve wicketkeeper Sam Harper had been released from the squad, so Australia will make at least one change to its XI from the previous Test.

There are still selection questions. Matthew Renshaw is reported as a strong possibility to open after Maddinson’s release, but that is not a confirmed selection. Steve Smith was due to undergo a fitness test on his neck at match-eve training; Cricket Australia described him as firming to play, which is not the same as an official clearance or a named XI. Cameron Green and Josh Inglis are back in selection contention after injury, but their availability does not guarantee selection. Check the Cricket Australia match center and the teams’ official updates for the final lineups and toss information.

Where to watch the third Test

Coverage depends on territory. Cricket Australia lists Kayo and Fox Cricket for the series in Australia. SuperSport has listed the South Africa–Australia tour live on SuperSport Cricket, DStv Channel 212, and DStv Stream for its South African audience. Channel names, subscription requirements, and streaming access can vary by package, so viewers should check the current schedule in their own service before match time. If you are watching from another country, use the broadcaster with local rights rather than assuming an Australian or South African service is available there.

Cricket Australia’s match page and the SuperSport fixture page are also useful for score updates and any change to the scheduled start. The current SuperSport listing displays the third Test at 08:30, while Cricket South Africa lists the local start as 10:30; those times align as UTC and SAST respectively. For Australian listeners, Cricket Australia’s preview lists ABC and SEN radio coverage alongside the television and streaming options.

What to check before play

Before setting a reminder, use the Cape Town time as the anchor: Tuesday, October 27, at 10:30 a.m. SAST (UTC+02:00), or 08:30 UTC. Australian viewers can use 7:30 p.m. AEDT on October 27. Then refresh the match center for the toss, the named XIs, and any last-minute status update—especially Smith’s fitness confirmation and Australia’s opening combination. The squads and the fixture are confirmed; the final starting elevens were not yet confirmed in the latest reports reviewed for this update.

For the official schedule, see Cricket South Africa’s third-Test listing and the SuperSport tour fixtures. Cricket Australia’s CA:39992 match center carries the match details, and its latest team update covers the Australian changes. For South Africa’s squad and Nortje update, see the third-Test squad announcement. Cricket Australia’s match preview gives its viewing information, while SuperSport’s tour broadcast notice lists South African coverage.