Head urges batting reset ahead of Cape Town decider

Travis Head has offered an honest assessment of Australia’s collapse in Gqeberha in the second ICC World Test Championship Test against South Africa.

While Head's slow-burn 121 in the second innings stood out as a highlight in Australia's heavy loss, it stressed on a persistent issue across recent matches - Australia’s dependence on lone-ranger batting performances rather than collective team efforts.

"We've spoken as a group going into this series that we've sort of had one individual each time, but we haven't been able to get that collective batting day that we would desire as a team," Head said, calling on the team's top order to fix a troubling trend ahead of the final Test in Cape Town.

Despite boasting individual contributors, such as Cameron Green’s efforts against Bangladesh, Matt Renshaw’s 190 in Durban and Head’s own century at St George’s Park, the Aussies have failed to register two fifty-plus individual scores in the same innings across their last four Tests.

"Renners (Renshaw) was outstanding last week and that's what does win you games. Individual performance can win you games but as a collective, more supportive roles around that would go a long way."

Furthermore, in their four recent Tests, only four 50-plus partnerships have involved two top-five batters. Instead, four of Australia's top nine partnerships on the tour so far have featured frontline bowlers.

"It's something that the team's been really good at over a long period of time, is being able to build substantial partnerships to win games of cricket.

"We just haven't been able to find that in the last couple of months. It's very hard to put a finger on why. We're playing some exceptional attacks in some trying conditions. But it's not a lack of trying."

The 32-year-old dismissed suggestions that batting position changes complicate individual plans.

"Batting's batting – I don't see any difference in one and five," Head noted.

"For me, it's the same process. It's a red ball still coming down. Wherever you bat in the order, it's still the same process.

"You've got to try to have your craft going as well as you can over and over and over again."

Still at the top of the WTC table, Australia will play the final Test of the series against South Africa at YesPlay Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town from Tuesday.

Last campaign's runners-up Australia head the standings in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle with nine wins coming from 12 games.

Previous edition winners South Africa, who had been pushed to third place owing to the loss in Durban against Australia, made further gains after levelling the three-match series in Gqeberha.

As the cycle enters a crucial phase, the teams now look to strengthen their case for a top-two finish.

In recent weeks, the World Test Championship has seen exciting cricketing action across continents.

Here we take a look at how the teams stack up in the standings.

1 Australia

Played: 12

Wins: 9

Points Percentage: 75.00

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Travis Head (1 069 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mitchell Starc (64 wickets)

Series remaining: SA (1), NZ (4), IND (5)

The 2023 World Test Championship winners were dealt a third loss in the ongoing cycle after South Africa bounced back into the series with a mammoth win of an innings and 31 runs.

Heading into the second Test, Australia had made a near-perfect start to the cycle. A series sweep over West Indies in the Caribbean was followed by a dominant Ashes retention at home.

A surprise defeat to Bangladesh cut their lead at the top of the ICC World Test Championship standings, but they bounced back with a win in Mackay to strengthen their position further.

The Aussies further strengthened their lead at the top of the standings following their dominant showing in Durban to beat South Africa on their own turf.

Renshaw's supreme showing with the willow, combined with the visitors' experienced bowling lineup paved the way for a 214-run win in the fourth innings.

However, their percentage was cut short to 75.00 as the Proteas registered a comprehensive victory in the second Test, setting up an epic conclusion to the series.

2 New Zealand

Played: Six

Wins: Four

Points Percentage: 72.22

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Devon Conway (676 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Jacob Duffy (23 wickets)

Series remaining: IND (2), SL (2), AUS (4), PAK (2)

The inaugural WTC champions had to wait for their first outing this cycle but made an immediate impact against the West Indies.

After a hard-fought high-scoring draw, New Zealand bounced back with a clinical nine-wicket win before sealing the series emphatically with a 323-run victory in the third Test.

The Black Caps strengthened their position near the top of the standings with a memorable 2-1 away series victory over England.

After losing the opening Test, New Zealand bounced back with successive victories to finish the tour strongly and improve to four wins from six matches this cycle.

Home series against India and Sri Lanka are on the horizon along with demanding away tours of Australia and Pakistan.

3 South Africa

Played: Six

Wins: Four

Points Percentage: 66.67

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Aiden Markram (322 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Simon Harmer (34 wickets)

Series remaining: AUS (1), BAN (2), ENG (3), SL (2)

A series-levelling win over Australia helped the Proteas secure their fourth win in the ongoing cycle after six outings.

Trailing 1-0 in the three-match series, the hosts put on a commanding performance, guided by a career-best knock from skipper Temba Bavuma and stellar bowling displays from the likes of Marco Jansen and Kagiso Rabada.

South Africa, who occupied the second slot in the standings until the beginning of their three-Test series against the Aussies, had slipped to third following their defeat in the opening Test in Durban.

The defending WTC champions had underlined their credentials with a commanding 2-0 away series win over India - their first success on Indian soil in 25 years and followed it up by drawing the series against Pakistan.

With two more Tests to go against Australia, it remains to be seen if the holders can make it to a second-successive trip to the Ultimate Test.

4 Bangladesh

Played: Six

Wins: Three

Points Percentage: 55.56

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Najmul Hossain Shanto (647 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Taijul Islam (24 wickets)

Series remaining: WI (2), ENG (2), SA (2)

Bangladesh have made a competitive start to the cycle despite losing their opening series in Sri Lanka.

Their victories have kept them firmly in contention heading into a crucial run of fixtures.

A stunning away victory over Australia has given Bangladesh a major boost in their race for a place in the ICC World Test Championship Final. Combined with their earlier home series win over Pakistan, the result has put Bangladesh in a strong position as they look to build on their momentum.

Bangladesh will now aim to carry this form into their upcoming home series against the West Indies and England and the challenging away series against South Africa.

5 India

Played: Eleven

Wins: Five

Points Percentage: 51.52

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shubman Gill (1 024 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mohammed Siraj (43 wickets)

Series remaining: AUS (5), NZ (2)

After a high-octane drawn series against England, India find themselves under pressure following a 0-2 home series defeat to South Africa. The two-time WTC runners-up have crossed the halfway stage of their campaign with ground to make up.

With little margin for error moving forward, India needed the best possible start in Sri Lanka before their challenges against New Zealand (away) and Australia (home).

A ton from Devdutt Padikkal and a sensational bowling performance from Manav Suthar gave them a brilliant win in Galle. They looked well placed to make it 2-0 in Colombo, but a resilient Sri Lankan fightback saw the second Test end in a draw. India won the series 1-0, though they would have wanted to take more points from the tour.

Next up for India are two Tests in New Zealand. Their quest to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against Australia at home could also boost their chances of reaching the WTC27 Final.

6 England

Played: 16

Wins: Seven

Points Percentage: 38.54

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Joe Root (1 272 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Josh Tongue (64 wickets)

Series remaining: SA (3), BAN (2)

England followed their win at Leeds and Lord's with an eight-wicket victory over Pakistan to seal their three-match series on a perfect note.

England have won seven of their 16 Tests in the current cycle, while also suffering series defeats to New Zealand and Australia. They have also been docked points for maintaining a slow over-rate in their clashes.

Despite the positive outcomes against Pakistan, England have only two series remaining in this cycle, against South Africa and Bangladesh respectively.

Interestingly, both the highest run-getter and wicket-taker in this cycle belong to England, in the form of Joe Root and Josh Tongue.

7 Sri Lanka

Played: Six

Wins: One

Points Percentage: 33.33

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Sonal Dinusha (606 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Asitha Fernando (25 wickets)

Series remaining: SA (2), PAK (2), NZ (2)

Sri Lanka opened the cycle with a series victory over Bangladesh but were unable to build on that momentum, losing their subsequent away series to West Indies.

They also suffered a loss at home to India in Galle, but fought back strongly in Colombo to secure a draw. A resilient batting effort, led once again by Sonal Dinusha, helped Sri Lanka hold on and deny India a series sweep.

With only one win from six Tests, they face an uphill battle as difficult series against South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan still lie ahead.

8 West Indies

Played: 12

Wins: Two

Points Percentage: 20.83

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shai Hope (792 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Shamar Joseph (35 wickets)

Series remaining: BAN (2)

West Indies secured their second win of the cycle in the first Test against Pakistan but failed to carry that momentum into the second. The drawn series sees them sit at the second-last place in this edition of the WTC cycle.

Earlier, West Indies earned a timely boost with a 1-0 series victory in Sri Lanka, securing their first series win of the cycle after drawing the second Test.

Currently in a rebuilding phase under captain Roston Chase, West Indies will be hoping to finish the cycle on a strong note when they face Bangladesh in their final series of the campaign.

9 Pakistan

Played: Nine

Wins: Two

Points Percentage: 4.63

Leading run-scorer this cycle: Shan Masood (546 runs)

Leading wicket-taker this cycle: Mohammad Abbas (41 wickets)

Series remaining: SL (2), NZ (2)

After a strong comeback in the West Indies to tie the series, Pakistan had a tough start to their England tour. In the absence of Babar Azam, the side succumbed to an innings loss in Leeds.

They were unable to turn things around at Lord’s, suffering a 194-run defeat despite a fine nine-wicket haul from Mohammad Abbas. The loss saw Pakistan’s points percentage drop further in the standings.

Despite a number of changes in the third Test at Edgbaston, Pakistan lost the series 3-0, further denting their points percentage.

Pakistan’s campaign took another hit after a slow over-rate Edgbaston due to which 11 points were further docked.

Meanwhile, the South Africa Men’s selection panel has today named the squad for the third Dafabet Test against Australia.

Fast bowler Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the Test due to a mild groin injury.

He sustained the injury while bowling during the first innings of the second Dafabet Test in Gqeberha on Wednesday. Subsequent scans on Thursday revealed the extent of the injury.

Proteas Men’s Squad - Third Dafabet Test against Australia

Temba Bavuma (captain, DP World Lions), Marques Ackerman (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), David Bedingham (YesPlay Cobras), Corbin Bosch (Momentum Multiply Titans), Matthew Breetzke (Dafabet Warriors), Gerald Coetzee (DP World Lions), Simon Harmer (Momentum Multiply Titans), Marco Jansen (Momentum Multiply Titans), Keshav Maharaj (Hollywoodbets Dolphins), Aiden Markram (Momentum Multiply Titans), Wiaan Mulder (DP World Lions), Senuran Muthusamy (Dafabet Warriors), Dane Paterson (YesPlay Cobras), Kagiso Rabada (DP World Lions), Ryan Rickelton (DP World Lions) and Kyle Verreynne (YesPlay Cobras).

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