Renshaw runs flip Aussies' batting dilemma

One of the more challenging and layered selection calls of the Pat Cummins era may await Australia in Gqerberha as Cameron Green and Josh Inglis push to make comebacks to a reformed top-order.

No one is yet counting chickens but a barnstorming Durban Test from Matthew Renshaw and an encouraging second innings from Nic Maddinson has suddenly left George Bailey and co potentially flush with options.

The panel's most difficult choices in recent times have centred around the make-up of their bowling attack. They have been forced to leave out one of Test cricket's most effective bowlers in Scott Boland for their past three matches, while they have also grappled with champion spinner Nathan Lyon's suitability on pace-friendly surfaces.

But this week's possible returns of Green – a certain starter at full fitness – and another strong candidate in Inglis will leave Australia's decision makers with enviable contemplations, particularly after Maddinson's selection out of the blue for the first Test raised questions of a barren domestic batting landscape.

Cooper Connolly, who had a head cold leading into the first Test and was jumped by Maddinson into the XI with Renshaw thrust down to No.5, is another consideration if Australia want a left-arm spinner who can bat in the middle order on what is being talked about as a spinning Gqerberha deck.

The insistence of Cummins, and reiterated by coach Andrew McDonald in the afterglow of their 214-run series-opening win, that their batting order is not set in stone only adds to the permutations.

"We view Nic Maddinson the same way that we do Matthew Renshaw – that they could bat one, two, three, four, five, potentially even six," said McDonald.

"We're trying to create that flexibility in our order – and injury has pushed us into this conversation as well … but do we like (Nic Maddinson's) ability to play spin through the middle? Yes. Do we like Matthew Renshaw's ability to play spin through the middle? The answer to that is yes also.

"Every time that we plan out (for) an opponent, the surface, we're really open-minded to what our batting order can look like.

"I suppose the external view on that is that you need specific orders at certain times, and this person's an opener, this person's a middle-order player – I think we're more open-minded than that. But it doesn't make it right, either."

There is still plenty for Green, whose abdominal strain will prevent him from bowling at all in South Africa, and Inglis, who flew back to Perth ahead of the first Test after breaking his finger in last month's ODIs, to prove ahead of the second Test.

Green, Australia's best batter against Bangladesh in August, was back running on the Durban outfield before Australia toasted victory on Tuesday. McDonald said the allrounder, whose ability to throw has also been hampered by a shoulder concern, was "progressing well".

"He's got a few things to go through in the next three to four days," the coach added. "He'll progress that. On the back of a soft tissue injury it can accelerate quite quickly.

"If you asked me a week ago where he'd be at – to see him running and doing all his physical work (is encouraging)."

Inglis meanwhile has had a "couple of light hits" only. To come back into consideration, he will need to show he can face bowlers at full intensity while batting in a splint protecting his right index finger.

Neither will displace Renshaw after his 190 and 82 gave him the highest run tally by an Australian in a Test for nearly four years, resuscitating the visitors after they slumped to 6-124 on day one.

It is conceivable he could move up or down the order depending on the other batters picked, though skipper Cummins did say the case would need to be "pretty compelling" to shift him from five. That call could also hinge on whether South Africa again pick two frontline spinners in an attack that now appears almost certain to include star quick Kagiso Rabada.

"The pleasing part internally from our group is that they're willing to embrace the roles that we think as a collective can go out there and execute and win a Test match," said McDonald.

"'Renners' just nodded the head (after being told he was moving from opener to five, and) got to work.

"He was prepared for that as well – if you think back as far as the Indian series (in 2023) where he did bat in the middle. We've had this view on Matthew Renshaw being a very fine player of spin. I think at that point in time it might have been Travis Head who missed out (for the Nagpur Test against India).

"So we did hold him in high regard then, and we still do now in that middle-order role."

The fitness of Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc will also be closely monitored after steady workloads (all three topped 29 overs for the Test) and the first of two four-day breaks between Tests.

The injury-prone Hazlewood's 32.5 overs marked his biggest tally since last year's World Test Championship final, and Cummins' second biggest (29) since the same match.

The trio was carefully managed through the recent ODIs against Zimbabwe and South Africa. Cummins played only one match, Starc two and Hazlewood three.

"We do, at times, have to give up positions in the one-day international team to make sure that our players are ready for Test match cricket," said McDonald.

"We feel as though, with what we saw during this Test match … we got the result based upon the preparation.

"Now the big ask for us (is) just to recover, pull up, and then go into the next Test match. That's a totally different conversation.

"Over the next couple of days we'll assess where everyone's at. It's a short turnaround, so there's a fair bit to work through in that space. But our (sports science and medical) team are incredibly important to us with that cohort of fast bowlers that aren't getting any younger.

"The management and the investment that they also put into their own bodies to get ready is a credit to them – and you see that play out."

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First Test: Australia won by 214 runs

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa's first Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, 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