Starc’s six puts Australia in control after South Africa are dismissed for 329

Mitchell Starc took six wickets as South Africa were dismissed for 329 in the third and final Test against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town, giving the visitors a strong opening position in the series decider.

The match is the latest fixture in the 2025-27 ICC World Test Championship and began with the series level at 1-1. Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs, before South Africa responded with an innings-and-31-run victory in Gqeberha.

South Africa made one change to the side that produced that emphatic second-Test win, with Gerald Coetzee returning to Test cricket in place of Anrich Nortje. The 24-year-old fast bowler had not played a Test for almost two years.

Coetzee made his Test debut against the West Indies at Centurion in February 2023 and has taken 14 wickets in four matches at an average of 23.57. He last appeared in the format against Sri Lanka in November 2024, having also established himself as an important part of South Africa’s white-ball attack.

Australia were forced into a significant alteration before the match, with Steve Smith ruled out because of a neck injury. Smith had experienced stiffness during the team’s training session before the Test and had also been affected by the problem during the defeat in Gqeberha.

Australia made four changes in total. Josh Inglis, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly and Nathan Lyon came into the XI, with Matt Renshaw moving to the top of the order alongside Travis Head and Green expected to bat at number four in Smith’s absence.

The result in Cape Town carries major implications for the World Test Championship standings and the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings. Australia began the Test top of the 2025-27 championship table with 108 points from 12 matches and a points percentage of 75.00, while South Africa were third on 66.67 from six Tests, with 48 points.

A South Africa victory would move the hosts above Australia in both the World Test Championship standings and the Test rankings. New Zealand were second in the championship table on 72.22 after six Tests.

The Test also marked a major milestone for Richard Kettleborough, who became only the fifth umpire to stand in 100 Tests as an on-field official. The 53-year-old joined Aleem Dar, Steve Bucknor, Rudi Koertzen and Rod Tucker in the landmark group.