Coetzee back after two years for South Africa's series decider

Gerald Coetzee is all set to return to the longest format of the game after almost two years, as he replaces Anrich Nortje in the South Africa side for the final match of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship 2025/27 series against Australia.

The remainder of the side is the same as the one that featured in the brilliant innings win in Gqeberha.

Coetzee made his debut against West Indies at Centurion in February 2023, taking three wickets and last appeared in November 2024, against Sri Lanka. He has played four Tests and taken 14 wickets at 23.57.

Already an important member of the South Africa white-ball setup, with particular impact in the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2023, where he was South Africa's leading wicket-taker with 20 wickets in eight matches, the pacer will look to supplment his side in the all-important Cape Town Test.

Australia took the first Test at Kingsmead, Durban, by 214 runs. They posted 390 and 314/6 declared and South Africa fell short chasing 421, bowled out for 206 after scoring 284 in the first innings.

The hosts hit back emphatically at St George's Park, Gqeberha, winning the second Test by an innings and 31 runs. They declared on 425/9, then bowled Australia out for 99 and, after enforcing the follow-on, for 295.

Skipper Temba Bavuma led from the front with 179, an innings for which he won the Player of the Match. Another decisive factor in the Test was Marco Jansen, who displayed all-rounder perfection, following up a sensational 85 with the bat with a haul of 6/67 in the Test.

The result could have massive ramifications on both the ICC World Test Championship standings and the ICC Men's Test Team Rankings.

A South Africa win will displace Australia from the No 1 spot in both the standings and the Test rankings.

At present, Australia remain top of the 2025-27 World Test Championship standings with 108 points from 12 Tests, a points percentage of 75.00. New Zealand are second on 72.22 from six Tests.

On the other hand, South Africa sit third on 66.67, with 48 points from six Tests.

Australia are set to make at least one change to their playing XI for the third ICC World Test Championship fixture against South Africa in Cape Town.

Matthew Renshaw is in contention to open the batting alongside Travis Head, after Nic Maddinson managed just one score above 10 in four innings since his recall for the series against South Africa.

Maddinson, alongside back-up wicketkeeper Sam Harper, have been released from Australia's Test squad.

Steve Smith is also set to undergo a fitness test after he complained of neck stiffness during Australia's match-eve training session. The batter is expected to be available for the series decider.

Cameron Green and Josh Inglis are also available after recovering from their respective injuries.

Australia wicket-keeper Alex Carey knows what's at stake when his side takes on South Africa in the third and final ICC World Test Championship contest that commences in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The Aussies head into the fixture sitting on top of the World Test Championship standings and with the No 1 ranking in Test cricket but will lose both mantles if they succumb to a defeat against the Proteas in the series deciding Test at Newlands.

But rather dwell on what the consequences would look like should Australia fall to South Africa in the third Test, Carey has instead decided to focus on the positives and concentrate on ensuring the team gets their preparation right so the result in Cape Town takes care of itself.

"As a group, we really believe in what we can achieve," Carey told reporters in Cape Town.

"If that's after this Test we're ranked No 1 or we're not. I think we know what we're capable of when we certainly get it right.

"So we won't look too far ahead. And I know it's probably a little bit cliche, but we've got to get our preparation right going into this Test match and then hopefully things can take care of itself there and not look at the end result."

If the Aussies can taste success in the third Test then it will boost their chances of earning a place at next year's World Test Championship Final, with the side scheduled to take on New Zealand in four Tests later this year before a five-match series in India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in January and February of 2027.

With so much to play for in the coming months, Carey suggested the result in every Test will be crucial for his side with the stakes raised under the World Test Championship cycle.

"I think most Test matches feel like finals," Carey admitted.

"You don't take any for granted and you want to win every single one of them as you know the significance of them.

"You know the point system around the World Test Championship. So, as a playing group, I think it's really important for us to understand the process of every game that we go into and try to nail that. And this one, again, is no different."

Meanwhile, Cameron Green has conceded that his abdominal muscle tear has healed quickly, putting him in a position to be selected for the upcoming ICC World Test Championship series finale against South Africa.

"Pretty surprised with how quickly it's actually healed, or how functional I feel only a few weeks after," Green said of the injury he had sustained during the ODI series between the two teams.

"It was really bizarre. I think there's definitely a pretty clear link between getting hit and then doing the injury. I think it's too much of a coincidence for them not to be related.

"Basically I got hit where you don't want to get hit and then two balls later, I went to play a shot just behind the wicket – obviously had to lengthen my muscle and I think my muscle was pretty keen to not move at that stage after I got hit.

"It's quite a unique injury. There are not many people that have done the injury and then tried to play a few weeks later. The (medical staff) didn't have much to go off … (but) it's all good to go for the last game."

Green, who featured during a net session ahead of the final Test in Cape Town, has been keeping an eye on the topsy-turvy series that saw Australia clinch the first Test before the hosts made a comeback in the second.

The all-rounder, who had played in last year’s World Test Championship Final against South Africa, has noted learnings from that experience.

"(Batting at three in the WTC final) was a tough experience for sure. Pretty unique that you're playing South Africa with the Dukes ball in England. I think there's a lot of good learnings, a lot of tough learnings,” Green said.

"Obviously they're such a quality bowling line-up that you've got to be on your game at all times to succeed against them, regardless of where you bat.

“But certainly up the top of the order is incredibly difficult – their opening bowlers are so great with the new ball, you've got to work really hard, especially at the start."

Green, who made his Test debut in 2020, has batted through different positions from number three to eight.

When asked about his preferred batting position, Green made his pick at the heart of the middle order.

"I've had a lot of experience up and down the order. I think I'm well suited at four and five,” he said.

In the home series against Bangladesh, Green had thrived batting at five, finishing the two-match series as the top run-scorer, that included a century and a half-century.

"Obviously we've had some pretty incredible cricketers in those positions. So I'm very happy to move up and down the order depending on what the team wants."

Proteas XI: Temba Bavuma (capt), Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada.

Fixtures and Results

First Test - South Africa lost to Australia by 214 runs @ Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban

Second Test - South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs @ Dafabet St George’s Park, Gqeberha

Third Test - Tuesday, 27 - Saturday, 31 October at 10.30am @ YesPlay Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town