Temba Bavuma has suggested that one of his finest wins as South Africa captain could still lie ahead in Cape Town, believing the Proteas have the momentum to close out the series in the decider.
Bavuma was central to the Proteas’ innings-and-31-run victory over Australia in Gqeberha, with his 179 laying the foundation before the tourists collapsed. The result sets up a third Test at Newlands from next Tuesday, where South Africa can extend an unbeaten home series run that dates back to 2020.
The clearest sign of how much Thursday’s win meant to Bavuma came with Steve Smith‘s dismissal on the final day. Smith, Australia’s best batter, skied Kagiso Rabada to mid-wicket, and Bavuma turned away, unable to watch as Matthew Breetzke settled under the catch.
Bavuma has won 12 Tests, drawn one and lost one since taking over as captain in 2023. Asked whether this was his most special win as leader outside last year’s World Test Championship final victory, he suggested the best may be yet to come.
“The Newlands one most probably would be, if things go according to plan,” he said, pointing to Tuesday’s third Test.
“Sometimes as a team, we forget that the target is on our back and everyone wants to have a go at us. Everyone wants us to show our mettle as the current world champions, and everything that we do is under the microscope.”
Bavuma admitted that last week’s 214-run defeat to Australia in Durban, his first loss as captain, had served as a wake-up call.
“It was a realisation of that, but also a realisation of what it means coming up against super strong opposition,” he said. “So from a pride point of view, from a belief point of view, we’ve definitely strengthened that by being able to perform like that.
“Momentum is a big thing, so I think that’s something that once you’ve achieved, you want to protect it, and that’s exactly what we’ll be trying to do.”
A comeback for the ages
The Gqeberha win ranks among the Proteas’ best, as they recovered from 6-110 in their first innings after a wet opening two days. Bavuma was not the only match-winner.
Marco Jansen enhanced his reputation as the game’s best allrounder with 85 with the bat and 5-33 with the ball. Simon Harmer contributed 82 as a lower-order batter, Wiaan Mulder took 3-64 in Australia’s second innings, and Kagiso Rabada claimed six wickets on his return. Rabada will also benefit from the run, having played his first game of any sort since May.
Team news and squad
South Africa will make one forced change after Anrich Nortje was ruled out with a groin injury. Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch and Gerald Coetzee are all options to come in.
South Africa squad for the second Test: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Matthew Breetzke, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Kyle Verreynne.
Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (second Test onwards), Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster.
Fixture details
The third Test takes place at Newlands, Cape Town, from 27 to 31 October, starting at 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local time). The series is part of the Qantas tour of South Africa 2026, with all matches broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket.