SA vs AUS 2026: Australia are open to flexible batting orders, says Pat Cummins

Australia (Photo Source: Fancode)

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins has indicated that the team remains open to adjusting its batting order for the upcoming Tests in the series against South Africa. The flexibility in selection comes after the first Test in Durban, where Australia won by 214 runs with a strong all-round performance. The squad demonstrated depth in its batting resources, with multiple players capable of filling different positions in the order.

Matt Renshaw was named Player of the Match after scoring 190 and 82 across Australia’s two innings in Durban. His 190 eclipsed his previous best score from January 2017, marking a significant milestone in his Test career. Renshaw had moved down to the number five position after Nic Maddinson’s surprise selection as an opener, with Cameron Green missing the match through injury. Prior to this series, Renshaw had only filled the number five position four times during the 2023 tour of India.

“Give us a few days, we’ll look at the conditions of the next Test. I mean, it’s got to be pretty compelling to move him [Renshaw] from there. But we’ve seen Travis Head down at No. 5 as well. We’re always working out the six batters, or seven plus [Alex Carey] and how is that going to function as a whole? So, if anything, I still think he [Renshaw] can be a great opener, and now he’s got another string to his bow that he’s found this week,” said Cummins as quoted by Cricinfo.

We’re very big on that flexibility: Cummins

The Australian captain emphasised that the team has established a clear structure for the middle order while maintaining flexibility at the top. This framework provides a foundation while allowing for tactical adjustments based on match conditions and player availability.

“We’re pretty certain that we like Marn [Labuschagne] at No. 3, Smithy at No. 4, and then, the six and seven felt pretty locked up. I think bringing in Maddo, we really like the idea of bringing that flexibility, that unlocks a lot [such as] Trav back to No. 5, Renners down to No. 5, even Maddo himself at five. We haven’t had that option [in] the last few years where we feel like we’ve got plenty of options at the top,” said Cummins.

“We’re very big on that flexibility. I know you’re probably sick of us talking about it but, why not next week, have different openers if the conditions take us somewhere different, or swapping out the batting orders between innings. I think having the structure that we do now with a few guys that can open, that’s really unlocked that,” he added.

This game is like old Test cricket: Cummins

Josh Hazlewood contributed significantly to Australia’s victory with a strong bowling performance, taking 6 for 49 in South Africa’s second innings. The combination of Renshaw’s batting contributions and the bowling attack’s effectiveness secured the win in Durban.

“This week has felt a bit more, I don’t know, like the old Test cricket, I reckon. It’s a bit more of a grind. [It’s] probably just appreciating that we weren’t as good at those little moments as we could have been [in some Tests]. I think you need to sometimes just grind it out, wait for the game to come to you and we just missed those moments in the past. So us as a group as we look at the next evolution, that’s something we spoke about,” said Cummins.

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