Cummins wins toss and bowls as Australia and South Africa face series-deciding third cricket test

CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) — Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl against South Africa on Tuesday in what shapes as a series-deciding third cricket test.

The Australians won the series-opener by 214 runs at Durban and South Africa responded to level it with a victory in the second match.

South Africa is the defending World Test Championship holder and both lineups are aiming for a place in the 2027 final. Australia currently leads the WTC standings ahead of New Zealand and South Africa.

Australia made four changes, with opener Nic Maddinson dropped and a veteran batter Steve Smith ruled out on concussion protocols.

Matt Renshaw was promoted to open the innings with Travis Head. Marnus Labuschagne held onto his place at No. 3 in the order. Cameron Green and Josh Inglis returned to the batting order and Cooper Connolly replaced Beau Webster as an allrounder.

Off-spinner Nathan Lyon returned in place of Scott Boland, who was demoted despite taking a five-wicket haul in the second test.

The Proteas made one enforced change, with pace bowler Anrich Nortje ruled out because of injury he sustained in the second test and replaced by Gerald Coetzee.

The pitch at Newlands has a tinge of grass layering on top, but the wicket is expected to slow down as the game progresses.

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Lineups:

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada

Australia: Travis Head, Matt Renshaw, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

An Australian fan cheers on day one of the third cricket test match between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town, South Africa, Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Halden Krog)

Australia's captain Pat Cummins reacts as he walks off the field after his dismissal on day five of the second cricket test match between South Africa and Australia, in Gqeberha, South Africa, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — Sri Lanka captain Kusal Mendis won the toss and elected to field in a crucial cricket ODI tri-series match against host Pakistan on Tuesday.

Pakistan has already qualified for Saturday’s final with three successive wins, including an epic one-wicket victory against England on the back of Shadab Khan’s unbeaten century last Sunday.

The stakes are high for Sri Lanka, which could eliminate England from the race for the final if it beats Pakistan.

Sri Lanka, which lost the opening game to Pakistan by 37 runs, shocked England in the last game in a 859-run thriller at Rawalpindi, where it completed the second-highest ever successful run chase in an ODI.

Pakistan made two changes and brought in Maaz Sadaqat in place of out-of-form opening batter Saim Ayub, who has been released from the squad.

Fast bowler Naseem Shah recovered from finger injury and returned for Razaullah, who took two wickets in his debut ODI in the last game.

Sri Lanka retained the same playing XI which won its previous game.

Lineups:

Sri Lanka: Avishka Fernando, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis (captain), Pavan Rathnayake, Sahan Arachchige, Janith Liyanage, Dasun Shanaka, Dunith Wellalage, Eshan Malinga, Asitha Fernando, Dilshan Madushanka

Pakistan: Maaz Sadaqat, Fakhar Zaman, Babar Azam, Saad Baig, Hasan Nawaz, Salman Ali Agha, Arafat Minhas, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Sri Lanka's Janith Liyanage, second left, celebrates with teammates after playing a winning run during the tri-series one-day international cricket match between Sri Lanka and England, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026. (AP Photo/Anjum Naveed)