Aussies to flip openers again with Maddinson, Harper released

Australia will have a new opener for the Cape Town series decider against South Africa after Nic Maddinson, along with back-up wicketkeeper Sam Harper, were released from the Test squad.

Steve Smith will undergo a fitness test on his troublesome neck at the visitors' match-eve training session but was firming to take his place in the XI, placing pressure on Marnus Labuschagne to hold his spot with Cameron Green and Josh Inglis returning from injury.

Matthew Renshaw now looks a good chance to open, potentially returning to the spot he was picked for in August, after Maddinson was dropped having passed double-figures just once in four hits since his surprise recall to face the Proteas.

The 34-year-old is set to return for New South Wales' Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania in Hobart. Harper, who had been on hand as Alex Carey's wicketkeeping understudy due to Inglis' broken finger, will be back for Victoria's clash with Queensland at the Gabba.

Labuschagne's position was set to come under the microscope when selectors met on Monday morning. Inglis is an option to bat at first drop in his place with Green firming to slot back into the No.5 position he excelled in against Bangladesh in August.

Australia's incumbent No.3 has scored 37, 37, 14 and 39 so far this series to continue a frustrating run of starts.  

"We're seeing some good things, yes, (but) is there a block at the moment around 30s? Yes," selection chief George Bailey said. "(He is) still contributing in terms of his ability to to get through a number of balls.

"So it's a decision around what does that look like if (Labuschagne) gets through there versus what does it look like for the collective … is it helping others around him? Is it helping the team get a result that we ultimately want?"

Smith was limited to around 20 minutes of gentle throwdowns in the Newlands nets on Sunday as he recovers from the neck issue that hampered him during the second Test. He is yet to pass 30 from four innings.

"He hasn't had the start he would like in this series. He’s got a bit of a neck issue going at the moment. You guys would have seen that play out in the nets," said coach Andrew McDonald.

"Today he’ll progress (his training) – he didn’t have his helmet on yesterday as well, so … hopefully he progresses to (facing) bowlers.

"We feel like it’s going to be a pretty steep progression ... he should be available."

Bailey said they would have liked more runs from Maddinson, whose second-innings 48 in the first Test was his only significant contribution in his surprise Test return.

The left-hander's elevation to the opening spot allowed Renshaw to fill Green's No.5 spot and counter the Proteas dual spinners in Australia's win in Durban.

Bailey indicated Maddinson would come back into contention for the summer's home Tests against New Zealand and ensuing India tour.

"Performance-wise, would you have liked more runs? Yes. Did it allow us to set the rest of the team up the way that we wanted to, whilst we’re working with the group we have? Yes," said Bailey.

"We always talk about what do we see when we see players at their best. I think you saw a glimpse of that in the second innings in Durban. The message for him … we wanted to be clear to him it wasn’t a stop-gap and that’s it, and it’s a discard.

"The same process we worked through to get him to be on the table for here, and ultimately to play, they’ll be the same questions that we’ll ask across the home summer to (the tour of) India as well.

"Just being clear with he and Harps that they were here for the right reasons – but, yeah, more runs."

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: South Africa won by an innings and 31 runs

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

South Africa Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Australia Test 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