Cricket-Australia still undecided on starting XI for second test v S Africa


FILE PHOTO: Cricket - 2025 ICC World Test Championship Final - Australia Press Conference - Lord's Cricket Ground, London, Britain - June 10, 2025 Australia's Pat Cummins during the press conference Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File photo

Oct 17 (Reuters) - Australia are assessing ⁠all selection options ahead of the second test against South Africa ⁠inGqeberha on Sunday as they look to claim the three-match ‌test series following a thumping 214-run win in the opening game.

All-rounder Cameron Green will miss out again with an abdominal strain but wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis could win his race to recover ​from a finger injury.

Whether he would start if ⁠fit remains to be seen, ⁠as Australia also ponder an all seam bowling attack that would leave out ⁠experienced ‌spinner Nathan Lyon.

With bad weather expected on the first two days there is a chance that the game could be shortened, or ⁠that conditions would be heavily weighted in favour of ​the seamers.

"We always look ‌at all options," captain Pat Cummins told reporters on Saturday. "We love ⁠playing with Nath. ​We saw last week, (he took) a couple of key wickets in the first innings. And even the control he gives. It makes the rest of us fast ⁠bowlers be able to function around him."

He suggested ​that Matt Renshaw, who scored 190 and 82 in the first test in Durban, would remain as a middle order batter, rather than an option to open ⁠the innings as he has done before.

"After whatRenners did last week, I presume he'll stay at number five," Cummins said.

"What he deserved even more credit for is that we'd asked him to do a different role and he ​just said straight away 'yep, no worries, whatever the ⁠team needs'.

"There were so many positives in addition to the runs he scored ​last week. He was a delight, and really ‌helped me and Lyon get through those ​partnerships (withRenshaw)."

South Africa lead the head-to-head inGqeberha 4-3, with Australia’s last victory there coming in 1997.

(Reporting by Nick Said; editing by Clare Fallon)

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