Australia's Test tour of South Africa ended in a 2-1 series defeat, but coach Andrew McDonald says the team's batting is in a better place than before it began. "If you look at the batting unit, I think we walk away in a stronger position," McDonald said, pointing to centuries from Matt Renshaw and Josh Inglis and Cameron Green's performance as reasons for optimism.
The series was marked by repeated batting collapses, with Australia 4-95 or worse in 14 of its past 25 Test innings. The brittleness was exposed again on the deciding day five in Cape Town, where the team slumped to 8-62 while chasing a winning total.
Despite the results, McDonald highlighted the performances of Green, Renshaw and Inglis. "For Josh Inglis to step up at late notice … he's been a batter that's been carried around with us for a while; it's exciting," he said.
McDonald acknowledged the team had missed several chances to clinch the series, including letting South Africa off the hook in Gqeberha and Cape Town. "We've underachieved here," he said. "It feels as though it's hard to win on the road. That's the greatest challenge, and that's where we will be critiqued."
He said selectors would have decisions to make around the age profile of the team, with 23-year-old Cooper Connolly playing his second Test and Sam Konstas performing well in the Sheffield Shield. Australia now prepares for a home series against New Zealand in December before a tour of India starting in January.
The defeats cost Australia the number one Test ranking; the team has now lost three of its past five Tests.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The series loss cost Australia the No.1 Test ranking with a demanding schedule ahead, including the India tour and the Ashes.
- Repeated batting collapses in 14 of 25 recent innings raise questions about reliability under pressure.
- Coach McDonald's confident assessment signals a commitment to the current core group, but impending selection decisions on age profile could reshape the team.
Background
Australia lost the three-Test series 2-1 to South Africa, with batting failures in Gqeberha and Cape Town proving decisive. The team has been bowled out cheaply in more than half its recent Test innings. McDonald nonetheless pointed to young batters such as Renshaw and Inglis, who scored centuries, as evidence of improvement. The rankings slip adds pressure before the New Zealand and India series.
What to Watch
- The home series against New Zealand in December, which could either restore confidence or deepen concerns about the batting unit.
- The tour of India beginning in January, a major challenge where Australia has not won a series since 2023.
- Selection decisions on older players as younger alternatives such as Cooper Connolly and Sam Konstas push for places.
Checked
11 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 10 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedMcDonald said Australia’s batting unit was in a stronger position despite the 2-1 series loss.Just In: “Coach Andrew McDonald says Australia's batting is in a better place now than before the South Africa tour, despite admitting the team underperformed in the 2-1 series loss. "If you look at the batting unit, I think we walk away in a stronger position," McDonald said.”
- SupportedAustralia lost the South Africa Test series 2-1.Just In: “Australia was beaten 2-1 by South Africa”
- SupportedRenshaw and Inglis scored centuries, and McDonald cited their performances and Green’s as reasons for optimism.Just In: “McDonald pointed to the performances of Cameron Green, Matt Renshaw and Josh Inglis as reasons for legitimate positivity, with the latter two scoring centuries.”
- SupportedAustralia was 4-95 or worse in 14 of its past 25 Test innings.Just In: “Australia has been 4-95 or worse in 14 of its past 25 Test innings”
- SupportedAustralia slumped to 8-62 on day five in Cape Town while batting to win the match.Just In: “the team slumped to 8-62 on the series-deciding day five in Cape Town”
- Partly supportedMcDonald said Australia let South Africa off the hook in Gqeberha and Cape Town.Just In: “That includes letting South Africa off the hook with the ball in Gqeberha and Cape Town”
- SupportedMcDonald said, “We've underachieved here.”Just In: “"We've underachieved here," McDonald said.”
- SupportedMcDonald said, “It feels as though it's hard to win on the road. That's the greatest challenge, and that's where we will be critiqued.”Just In: “"It feels as though it's hard to win on the road. That's the greatest challenge, and that's where we will be critiqued."”
- SupportedMcDonald said selectors would have decisions to make about the team’s age profile; 23-year-old Connolly was playing his second Test and Konstas was doing well in the Sheffield Shield.Just In: “McDonald also admitted selectors would have some decisions to make "around the age profile of that team", with 23-year-old Cooper Connolly playing his second Test in Cape Town and Sam Konstas firing in the Sheffield Shield.”
- SupportedAustralia’s next home series is against New Zealand in December, followed by a tour of India starting in January.Just In: “Australia to now turn its focus to a home series against New Zealand and a tour of India that starts in January.”
- SupportedThe defeats cost Australia the number one Test ranking, and Australia has lost three of its past five Tests.Just In: “Australia has now lost three of its past five Tests”