Cameron Green is fit to bat in the Cape Town decider as Anrich Nortje is ruled out

Australia regain their all-rounder as a batter only for the series decider at Newlands, while South Africa lose Anrich Nortje to a groin injury

Cameron Green has been passed fit for the third and final Test against South Africa in Cape Town, which begins on Tuesday, after an abdominal injury kept him out of the first two matches of a series now level at 1-1.

Green will be available as a batter only. He bowled lightly during an optional session at Newlands on Saturday but is not expected to bowl in the match itself.

South Africa, for their part, will be without Anrich Nortje, who has been ruled out of the decider with a groin injury sustained in the first innings of the second Test in Gqeberha.

A faster recovery than expected

Green tore an abdominal muscle during the one-day series between the two sides and links it to being struck while batting. "I got hit where you don't want to get hit, then two balls later went to play a shot and had to lengthen my muscle," Green said. "I think my muscle wasn't keen to move after I got hit."

The all-rounder missed both the Durban and Gqeberha Tests, but said the injury had settled far more quickly than expected. "I'm pretty surprised with how quick it has healed and how functional I feel only a few weeks after," he said. "I'm all good to go."

He batted for more than an hour in the nets at Newlands on Saturday, one of five Australians who took part in the optional session, and faced the new ball for a short period.

Where Green bats is still open

Green has batted anywhere from No. 3 to No. 8 since his Test debut in 2020.

"I have obviously had a lot of experience up and down the order," he said. "I think I am well suited at No.4 and No.5. I am happy to move up and down the order depending what the team wants."

His most recent Test runs came against Bangladesh in August, when he made 104 and 67 from No. 5 and finished as Australia's leading scorer in the series, ending a run of 11 Test innings without a half-century.

He credits a 135 in last season's final Sheffield Shield round with reminding him how he wants to bat. "I found a way I like to play the game that hasn't been there for the past few years," he said.

Nortje ruled out for South Africa

Nortje bowled only 3.3 overs in South Africa's first innings in Gqeberha before leaving the field, and scans on Thursday confirmed a mild groin injury.

South Africa have named a 16-man squad for Cape Town and have not yet called up a replacement. Nortje's omission is the only change to the group that won the second Test by an innings and 31 runs.

Dane Paterson, Gerald Coetzee and Corbin Bosch are the options to take the vacant seam place, with Keshav Maharaj the alternative should the hosts want a second spinner.

Australia's selection squeeze

Australia have kept an unchanged 18-man squad. Josh Inglis has recovered from a broken finger, and Steve Smith, who carried a stiff neck through the second Test, is expected to play.

Green's return adds to the pressure on a batting order that was bowled out for 99 in the first innings in Gqeberha. Matt Renshaw, who made 190 and 81 in Durban, is expected to move up to open should Nic Maddinson be left out.

Nathan Lyon trained in Cape Town after being omitted in Gqeberha and is competing with Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland. Captain Pat Cummins called it "five match-winners into four slots".

A series and a championship at stake

Australia won the opening Test in Durban by 214 runs before South Africa levelled the series at Gqeberha. Australia have not lost consecutive Tests since 2023.

The result also carries weight in the World Test Championship. Australia head the table, while South Africa, who won the 2025 final, slipped to third behind New Zealand after the Durban defeat.

Newlands has historically favoured the visitors, who have won 10 of their 14 Tests at the ground, though South Africa have taken three of the last four meetings there.

The third Test starts at Newlands on Tuesday, with either side able to claim the series by winning it and a draw leaving the rubber shared.

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