Australia beat South Africa as the Proteas return to home Test cricket

Almost a year after their last Test, South Africa returned to home action in the format. It was their first home Test since beating Australia in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in June 2025. Australia won by 214 runs in Durban, a result that also offers England pointers ahead of its South Africa series, scheduled to begin in December.

Australia had Matt Renshaw to thank in large part. Named player of the match, he made 190 in the first innings, a career best, followed by 82 in the second. He also took two wickets with his part-time bowling. His contribution helped Australia recover after slipping to 124-6 on day one. Josh Hazlewood, meanwhile, returned career-best Test figures of 6-49 in the second innings. Earlier in the match, captain Pat Cummins had taken 3-54, helping dismiss South Africa for 284.

South African bowlers Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, offering left- and right-arm options, shared only four wickets. Harmer took one in the first innings, as Australia recovered from 124-6 to reach 390. With the bat, Aiden Markram put up a notable second-innings resistance, facing 237 balls over nearly six hours in a futile attempt to secure a draw. David Bedingham also contributed two innings in the 40s.

Those efforts were not enough: six South African batters reached at least 30 in the first innings but failed to build on their starts, and the team gave up a 106-run deficit. Renshaw may have secured a place in Australia’s middle order, although the rest of the batting line-up remains unsettled. Travis Head had previously made that position his own before moving up to open during last winter’s Ashes. Renshaw has also opened for Australia, but the team has other batting problems to address first.

Marnus Labuschagne’s wait for a 12th Test century, stretching back to July 2023, continues. He made 37 in each innings but converted neither start into a major score. His batting average is 25.29 across the 24 Tests since his previous century, at Old Trafford during the 2023 Ashes. He had retained his place amid a lack of convincing alternatives, but Cameron Green and Josh Inglis are expected to be available for the second Test in Gqeberha. Green could challenge for the No. 5 spot occupied by Renshaw, while Labuschagne or Beau Webster at No. 7 have also been raised as possibilities.

England, due to tour South Africa for a three-Test series from December before a home Ashes next summer, can draw lessons from the match. England should know more when they reach South Africa for the Johannesburg Test on December 17, after the hosts have played Australia twice and Bangladesh twice in November. The question is whether South Africa’s difficulties point to deeper problems or simply a lack of sharpness after an extended absence from Test cricket.