The second Test of the Australia tour of South Africa 2026 is underway at St George’s Park in Gqeberha, with the visitors holding a 1-0 series lead after their commanding 214-run win in Durban. Rain ruined the opening day — only 12.2 overs were possible before play was abandoned — but with four days left and World Test Championship points on the line, this contest is far from decided.
Australia, the reigning World Test Championship winners, struck twice in the gloom through Scott Boland before the weather took over. South Africa, fighting to keep the series alive, need their senior players to stand up after a chastening defeat in the first Test.
Match Details: Date, Time and Venue
- Match: South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test — Australia tour of South Africa 2026
- Dates: October 18-22, 2026 (Sunday to Thursday); Day 2 is today, October 19
- Time: First ball 10:00 AM local time (SAST) — 1:30 PM IST / 8:00 AM GMT; toss each day 30 minutes earlier
- Venue: St George’s Park, Gqeberha
- Series status: Australia lead 1-0 (3-match series; 3rd Test at Newlands, Cape Town, Oct 27-31)
Squads and Playing XIs
South Africa playing XI: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Matthew Breetzke, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.
Australia playing XI: Travis Head, Nic Maddinson, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Matt Renshaw, Alex Carey (wk), Beau Webster, Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland.
South Africa squad: 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 squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster; Nic Maddinson and Sam Harper added as cover.
South Africa made three changes after Durban: Kagiso Rabada returned from a hamstring injury, 30-year-old Marques Ackerman earned his Test debut, and Matthew Breetzke replaced Tristan Stubbs, with Ryan Rickelton taking the wicketkeeping gloves. Australia’s only change was Scott Boland in for Nathan Lyon — and he repaid the faith instantly.
Day 1 Report: Rain Wins the Day
Persistent rain limited the opening day to just 12.2 overs. After Australia won the toss and chose to bowl, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood kept things tight before Scott Boland produced the moment of the day: Aiden Markram (11) and David Bedingham (0) fell to consecutive deliveries, caught behind as Boland swung the ball back into the right-handers. At stumps, South Africa were 20 for 2, with debutant Marques Ackerman (5*) and captain Temba Bavuma (4*) left with a serious rebuilding job on Day 2.
Head-to-Head Record
This is one of Test cricket’s great rivalries: the sides have met 102 times, with Australia winning 55, South Africa 26, and 21 drawn or tied. Australia also hold the recent psychological edge — they beat South Africa in the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s and dominated the first Test of this series in Durban.
Pitch and Weather Report
St George’s Park traditionally offers early assistance to the seamers, especially under cloud cover — exactly what Australia exploited on Day 1 — before flattening out into a good batting surface. With so much time lost to rain, the pitch should stay relatively fresh into the middle of the match. After Sunday’s washout, the forecast for the remaining days is more settled, with only a slight chance of further interruptions.
Where to Watch: Live Streaming and TV
- Australia: Fox Cricket (TV); Kayo Sports (streaming)
- South Africa: SuperSport; SABC 3 (TV) and SABC+ (streaming)
- India: Eurosport (TV); FanCode (streaming)
- UK: Sky Sports Cricket / NOW
- Pakistan & Bangladesh: Tapmad
- USA & Canada: Willow TV (via Prime Video)
FAQs
When is the South Africa vs Australia 2nd Test?
October 18-22, 2026, at St George’s Park, Gqeberha. Play starts at 10:00 AM local time (1:30 PM IST) each day.
What happened on Day 1?
Rain allowed only 12.2 overs. South Africa reached 20/2 after Australia chose to bowl — Scott Boland dismissed Aiden Markram and David Bedingham in successive balls.
Who won the first Test?
Australia won by 214 runs in Durban and lead the three-match series 1-0.
Who is making his Test debut?
South Africa’s Marques Ackerman, aged 30, debuted in this Test and was unbeaten on 5 at stumps on Day 1.
Where can I watch South Africa vs Australia live?
In Australia on Fox Cricket/Kayo; in South Africa on SuperSport and SABC 3/SABC+; in India on Eurosport and FanCode; in the UK on Sky Sports; in Pakistan and Bangladesh on Tapmad.
Conclusion
Rain robbed the series of its opening act, but the remaining four days set up a fascinating battle. Australia, 1-0 up and with Boland in the form of his life, can afford to be patient. South Africa, though, have their backs to the wall — another defeat ends the series, and Bavuma’s men must find a way to post a big first-innings total against a relentless Australian attack. Day 2, with Ackerman and Bavuma resuming at 20/2, could decide the direction of the entire series.
For tickets, the full schedule and official updates, visit Cricket Australia’s website.
Green Benn is a dedicated sports writer specializing in cricket, including IPL and international formats. Known for clear, engaging, and informative content, Green simplifies complex match analysis and player statistics for all readers. Passionate about sports storytelling, Green delivers reliable, SEO-friendly articles that keep fans updated and informed
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