28 October 2026,
Wednesday
28 October 2026,
Wednesday
Australian fast bowler Mitchell Starc. (Photo source: IANS)
The third and deciding Test of the three-match series between Australia and South Africa is being played in Cape Town. The match, part of the ICC World Test Championship, produced a thrilling first day.
South Africa made a strong start with the bat, but towards the end of the day Australia, and Mitchell Starc in particular, turned the game around. Starc took his 20th five-wicket haul in Tests and played a key role in bowling the hosts out for 329. South Africa were once 327/6, but Starc then took four wickets in just six balls to bowl them out.
Starc Becomes Sixth Australian With 20 Test Five-Wicket Hauls
Starc's 6/72 was his 20th five-wicket haul in Test cricket. He became the sixth Australian to reach the mark, joining Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Nathan Lyon, Dennis Lillee and Clarrie Grimmett.
Among left-arm bowlers, only Sri Lanka's Rangana Herath (34) and Pakistan's Wasim Akram (25) have more Test five-wicket hauls. New Zealand's Daniel Vettori also has 20. Starc is now ahead of Bangladesh's Shakib Al Hasan (19) and Taijul Islam (19).
Proteas Collapse After Flying Start
South Africa lost the toss and batted first. Openers Marques Ackerman and Aiden Markram gave them a strong start, adding 158 runs for the first wicket. South Africa were 327/6 before Starc took four wickets in six balls to bowl them out. Starc finished with figures of 6/72.
"I Just Bowled Some Good Balls With the Second New Ball"
Speaking after the day's play, Starc said many of the players in the side had been around for so long that, while playing, they try to solve problems. "I just bowled some good balls with the second new ball. It would have been good to do that with the new ball in the first hour, but I think that is the speciality of our group. We can solve problems before the end of the day's play. Clearly, after not having our best start in the first two hours, I think that is all it would take to get them out."
