Cameron Green is available for Australia's series-deciding third Test against South Africa at Newlands, having recovered from the abdominal strain that ruled him out of the first two matches in Durban and Gqeberha. Green has said he is best suited to batting at No. 4 or No. 5, but has left the final call on where he slots in to the team management.
Green will not be available to bowl in this Test, meaning his return is a purely batting-focused selection boost for a side that has shuffled its middle order twice already this series. He last played a first-class innings before the abdominal issue flared up in the ODI series that preceded the Tests.
Matthew Renshaw, who scored 190 and 82 batting at No. 5 in the series-opening win at Durban after being moved down the order in Green's absence, was seen facing the new ball in Newlands nets — a sign Australia may push him back up to open alongside Travis Head, which would free up the No. 5 spot for Green. Nic Maddinson, whose returns in the top order have been modest since replacing Green, is regarded as the player most likely to make way if that reshuffle goes ahead, while Marnus Labuschagne is expected to keep his place despite a quiet series by his own standards.
The series is level at 1-1 heading into Cape Town, with South Africa's innings-and-31-run win at Gqeberha squaring the ledger after Australia's 214-run win in Durban. Having a fit all-rounder batting at four or five gives Australia's top order more depth than it has carried into either of the first two Tests, where both encounters swung heavily on partnerships further down the order.
Green's return adds a genuine value pick if Australia confirm him in the XI, particularly given his century from the No. 5 position earlier this year against Bangladesh; his final price and ownership will depend heavily on the toss-day team sheet, so confirm the playing XI before locking him into a side.
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Selection and fitness details in this article are verified against same-day and freshly re-checked sources as of October 25, 2026; Australia's final playing XI and batting order were unconfirmed at the time of writing.
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