Disappointed Cummins ponders change for crucial Cape Town Test

Australia captain Pat Cummins is expecting to have Cameron Green and Josh Inglis available for selection as he considers whether to change the mix of his side for the decisive third and final ICC World Test Championship contest against South Africa in Cape Town.

The Aussies fell to a demoralising innings and 31-run defeat to the Proteas in Gqeberha to leave the three-game series tied at 1-1 and with everything to play for as the two rivals battle for a spot at next year's World Test Championship Final.

It was Australia's batting that was well below par during the second Test as they were bundled out for just 99 in their first innings and the potential return of Green and Inglis from injury provides Cummins with some decisions to make at selection for the Cape Town decider.

Duo Nic Maddinson and Beau Webster were well below their best with the bat during the second Test, while experienced No.3 Marnus Labuschagne is sure to come under scrutiny as his spell without a Test century continues to grow.

Cummins suggested he would wait until the Aussies arrive in Cape Town before he decides on any selection matters for the third Test, though he admitted it was good to have a couple of extra batting options at his disposal.

"It's not a perfect science," Cummins said. 

"It's always the challenge of, do you give someone one more game? Or do you feel like now is the right time to make a move?

"So that's what will be spoken about over the next few days. I think we will probably have Cam Green and Josh Inglis be available for next week – I'm sure their names will get thrown around when we try and work out an XI.

"But it's always that delicate balance. Do we feel like someone's just about to turn the corner and they're going to be away? Or does it now feel like the right time for a change-up?"

Cummins said there were plenty of positives from the way Labuschagne performed during the second Test, with the right-hander contributing 14 and 39 across the two innings.

"I think the hardest thing about opening or batting three is actually getting yourself in," Cummins said. 

"The ball is normally doing a fair bit. You've got fresh bowlers, and he's actually doing the hard bit.

"He's getting to 30s. I think he's got to find a way to turn those into bigger scores – 30s aren't going to win you too many matches. But it's certainly not a technique error. Maybe some decisions (where) the game demanded something a little bit different.

"We'll work on that over the next couple days. I think he's hitting the ball well.

"There's one Test match left in the series. We've got to win this, and then obviously there's a bit of a break before the summer...the next three days will be about how do we win next week?"

Series schedule

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

Second Test: 18-22 October, Gqeberha (South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs)

Third Test: 27-31 October, Cape Town