Cummins won't rule out changes for Australia in second Test

Australia captain Pat Cummins has indicated there may be changes to his side's XI for the second ICC World Test Championship fixture against South Africa.

The Aussies strengthened their chance of appearing at next year's World Test Championship Final with an impressive 214-run triumph over the Proteas in Durban and have four days off before the second Test commences in Gqeberha on Sunday.

The side look set to be boosted by the inclusion of star all-rounder Cameron Green who missed the first Test with an abdominal problem, while Cummins suggested conditions at St George's Park will determine the make-up of his XI and the batting order as the team strives for a series-clinching victory.

Cummins indicated it would be unlikely for in-form batter Matthew Renshaw to move away from his spot at No.5 in the batting order following his Player of the Match performance in Durban, but the skipper also urged the need for his side to be flexible within games depending on the conditions of the pitch and the context of the match.

"Give us a few days, we'll look at the conditions of the next Test," Cummins said after the victory in the first Test.

"I mean, it's got to be pretty compelling to move him (Renshaw) from there (No.5)

"But we've seen Travis Head down at No.5 as well. We're always working out the six batters, or seven plus (Alex Carey) and how is that going to function as a whole? So, if anything, I still think he (Renshaw) can be a great opener, and now he's got another string to his bow that he's found this week.

"We're pretty certain that we like Marn (Marnus Labuschagne) at No.3, Smithy (Steve Smith) at No.4, and then, the six and seven felt pretty locked up. I think bringing in Maddo (Nic Maddinson), we really like the idea of bringing that flexibility, that unlocks a lot (such as) Trav back to No.5, Renners down to No.5, even Maddo himself at five. We haven't had that option (over) the last few years where we feel like we've got plenty of options at the top.

"We're very big on that flexibility. I know you're probably sick of us talking about it but, why not next week, have different openers if the conditions take us somewhere different, or swapping out the batting orders between innings. I think having the structure that we do now with a few guys that can open, that's really unlocked that."

Cummins singled out Renshaw for his performance with the bat in the first Test, while the Australia skipper also paid tribute to fellow quick Josh Hazlewood after the seamer collected career-best figures of 6/49 in South Africa's second innings to help bowl the side to victory.

While the win helped the Aussies maintain their position on top of the World Test Championship standings, the side still needs to maintain their good form away from home with two more Tests remaining againat the Proteas and then a five-match battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with India at the start of next year that will help determine who reaches the one-off Test at The Oval in 2027.

"Overseas, it's always tough," Cummins noted with reference to the conditions teams faced in Durban.

"You never quite know what you're going to get (in the) first Test ... the position we were on day one, six down, (it) felt well behind where we wanted to be. Then, mainly through Renshaw, clawing our way back ... and then once we had the lead not giving it back. 

"Sometimes when we have got that far in front, I feel like we haven't been as ruthless as we could, but I think our standards were very high for the last three or four days. It's very satisfying."

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster

Series Schedule:

First Test: October 9-13, Durban  (Australia won by 214 runs)

Second Test: October 18-22, Gqeberha

Third Test: October 27-31, Cape Town