Starc shines as Proteas bring out the runs on opening day

An exciting day of cricket unfolded on the opening day of the third and final Test between Australia and South Africa in Cape Town.

South Africa had a brilliant start with the bat but the Aussies turned the tide with the ball, courtesy Mitchell Starc's brilliance with the ball to nab a 20th career Test five-for.

Australia suffered a setback ahead of the third and final Test against South Africa, with Steve Smith ruled out of the series decider due to a neck injury.

Smith had complained of neck stiffness during Australia’s match-eve training session and was scheduled to undergo a fitness test ahead of the crucial encounter. However, the batter has not been named in the playing XI for the final Test at Newlands in Cape Town.

The injury concern had also affected Smith during the second Test in Gqeberha, where he did not come out to bat for an extended period as Australia suffered an innings-and-31-run defeat.

Australia made four changes in total, with Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly and Nathan Lyon coming into the XI. Matt Renshaw, who's had a brilliant series upon return, will open with Travis Head while Green is expected to slot in at No 4 to replace Smith.

After Australia elected to field, Proteas openers Aiden Markram and Marques Ackerman gave the visiting bowlers a run for their money, showcasing composure and awareness to guide the Proteas with a big opening stand.

They navigated through to lunch without losing their wicket, making 140 runs together to begin proceedings in the ICC World Test Championship 2025-27 series finale.

The pair put together 158 runs for the first wicket when Ackerman tried to step out of his crease against Lyon and Alex Carey’s quick hands trapped him outside the crease. His maiden Test century was cut short by five runs.

Markram kept ticking with the bat and looked set alongside David Bedingham but his stay at the crease came to a close on 78, when Starc took a well-calculated catch off Josh Hazlewood.

Skipper Temba Bavuma was the next to fall to Lyon’s magic, when the spinner’s beautifully flighted length ball drifted away from the right-hander to castle him.

Matthew Breetzke wasn’t able to make much of an impact, courtesy of Connolly trapping him leg-before for just two runs.

The Proteas headed into tea at 221/4. Bedingham (50) and Wiaan Mulder (0) were the first ones to fall after lunch while Ryan Rickelton held fort at the oyster end.

He made a fine 42 for himself, while Marco Jansen (52) once again had a role to play with the bat, making another valuable half century for himself.

Starc was the standout among the bowlers for Australia, scalping 6/72 for himself.

Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC) have congratulated Richard Kettleborough of the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires on reaching a major career milestone, standing as an on-field umpire in his 100th Test during the third ICC World Test Championship fixture between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town on Tuesday.

The 53-year-old becomes only the fifth umpire to reach the milestone, joining Aleem Dar (145 Tests), Steve Bucknor (128), Rudi Koertzen (108) and Rod Tucker (102) in the 100-Test club.

Reflecting on the achievement, Kettleborough expressed his gratitude to the ICC, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and his colleagues for their continued support throughout his career.

“I am grateful to the ICC and ECB for their continued support, to my colleagues on the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires and Referees for their friendship and encouragement," he said.

“To my dad and aunt who are sadly no longer with us, I know how proud you would have been, to my children Millie, Jack and Alfie and to loved ones, I wish you could all be here. This milestone is as much yours as it is mine, I look forward to seeing you all soon and to many more rewarding years in the game.”

Kettleborough made his international umpiring debut in a T20I between England and Australia at Old Trafford in 2009. He officiated in his first Test in Galle in November 2010, during the match between Sri Lanka and the West Indies.

Before beginning his umpiring career, Kettleborough played 33 first-class matches for Middlesex and Yorkshire between 1994 and 1999 in the English County Championship. He was included in the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) panel of umpires in 2006 and was named in the Emirates ICC Elite Panel of Umpires in May 2011, becoming its youngest member at the time.

The 53-year-old has also officiated in 114 ODIs, 46 T20Is, four Women’s ODIs and four Women’s T20Is.

Kettleborough’s 100th Test as an on-field umpire marks a significant milestone in an international career that has spanned more than 15 years at the highest level of the game.

Kettleborough’s record at global ICC events

ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup: 2011, 2015 (including the final), 2019 and 2023 (including the final).

ICC Men’s T20 World Cup: 2012, 2014 (including the final), 2016, 2021 (including the final), 2022, 2024 (final as TV umpire) and 2026.

ICC Men’s Champions Trophy: 2013, 2017 (including the final) and 2025.

ICC World Test Championship Final: 2021 and 2023, serving as TV umpire on both occasions.

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