South Africa vs Australia Predictions - Rabada to deliver series win at Newlands

Simon Lewis

Editor

Last updated: 1 hour ago

Simon Lewis 1 hour ago

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Australia won the 1st Test by 214 runs, with Matt Renshaw scoring 190 and 82.
South Africa levelled the series 1-1 with an innings and 31-run win in Gqeberha.
Temba Bavuma scored 179 and Marco Jansen hit 85 in the 2nd Test.
Can Kagiso Rabada repeat his Newlands heroics and complete the Proteas comeback?

Kagiso Rabada has taken 52 Test wickets in 9 Tests at Newlands (Getty Images).

South Africa vs Australia - 3rd Test Predictions

South Africa are tipped to take the decider at their Cape Town stronghold with Kagiso Rabada having hit form with the ball in the 2nd Test along with skipper Temba Bavuma striking a match-winning century.

South Africa vs Australia - 3rd Test Predictions
Head-to-Head
South Africa Form
Australia Form
Team News & Conditions

South Africa’s Temba Bavuma scored 179 in the 2nd Test.
South Africa’s Marco Jansen scored 85 & took 5/33 in the first innings vs Australia.
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada took 2/33 & 4/77 at Gqeberha.
South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada has taken 52 Test wickets in 9 Tests at Newlands.
Australia’s Matt Renshaw hit 190 and 82 in the 1st Test.
Australia’s Travis Head hit 121 off 190 balls in Gqeberha.
Australia’s Scott Boland returned figures of 5/81 in the 2nd Test.
South Africa beat Australia at Newlands in 2011 & 2018.

Head-to-Head

South Africa and Australia each have two wins from their last five Test meetings, with one match ending in a draw. Australia lead the seven South Africa-Australia Tests played at Newlands since the hosts' readmission with four wins to three.

South Africa beat Australia by 322 runs the last time the two sides met in a Test at Newlands back in March 2018. In the current three-match series Australia won the 1st Test by 214 runs while South Africa levelled the series with a win by an innings and 31 runs in the 2nd Test.

South Africa Form

Temba Bavuma rescued the Proteas from 110/6 in their first innings and guided them to an impressive score of 425/9 declared at St George's Park. Bavuma ended on 179 off 334 balls with 18 fours and one enormous six. Marco Jansen and Simon Harmer helped turn the innings around with valuable innings in the 80s.

Jansen took 5/33 in Australia’s first innings with Kagiso Rabada picking up 4/77 as Australia followed on. Wiaan Mulder chipped in with five wickets in the match to help complete the win.

The hosts will be confident of claiming a series win at Newlands after dismantling Australia for 99 in the first innings, although Newlands is likely to offer a far more batting-friendly track.

Australia Form

Australia followed their dominant Durban win with a heavy setback in Gqeberha. Travis Head offered strong resistance with 121 after Australia followed-on from their first innings collapse which saw them post just 99 runs. The rest of their top order struggled in the follow-on and with no other batters scoring more than 40 Australia couldn’t prevent their innings defeat.

Scott Boland's five-for in South Africa’s innings was a bright spot as he knocked over South Africa’s top three batters to leave South Africa reeling at 40/4 before their recovery. Skipper Pat Cummins may consider rebalancing the attack by recalling Cameron Green now that he has recovered from injury, while Steve Smith's neck issue remains a concern.

Team News & Conditions

Kagiso Rabada is fit again after his hamstring injury while Anrich Nortje's availability following his injury at St George's Park has not yet been confirmed.

Australia could consider bringing in Cameron Green for opener Nic Maddinson, which would add a valuable seamer to their line-up. Newlands generally offers movement to seamers, particularly on the first two days.

South Africa (possible XI): Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj / Anrich Nortje.

Australia (possible XI): Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green / Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland / Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

Verdict

South Africa v Australia

South Africa are backed to complete a home series win by taking the win at Newlands. Rabada and Jansen look strong bowling candidates to back while Bavuma and Head should feature in the batting markets.

Temba Bavuma

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Simon is a talented sports writer in South Africa with a strong focus on cricket having played first-team level for UCT, including playing at two Universities Weeks.

From a young age Simon was an avid reader of cricket magazines and books, and went on to be Editor of The Googly, CricketScene SA and SA Cricket, in addition to being a Features Writer on SA Sports Illustrated.

He has interviewed most of South Africa's premier cricketers and was the first writer to interview a teenaged Jacques Kallis.

Simon has also written about English and local football, rugby and cricket, in addition to major international tennis and golf stars and competitions.

You can follow more from Simon at Muckrack, X and LinkedIn.