AUS vs SA Dream11 prediction & fantasy tips: 3rd Test 2026

Australia face South Africa in Match 3 of the series, a Test at Newlands, Cape Town, on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, with the first ball scheduled for 2:00 PM IST. The squads below are the announced squads, not confirmed playing XIs, so check the lineups once the toss is done before locking your free-to-play fantasy team.

Squads

Australia: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Sam Harper, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nic Maddinson, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and Beau Webster.

South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton and Kyle Verreynne.

According to Cricket Australia, Cameron Green and Josh Inglis have recovered to full fitness and are available for selection. Steve Smith had a stiff neck during the Gqeberha Test but is expected to be fine to play at Cape Town. The same report lists Kagiso Rabada in South Africa's possible XI, with Keshav Maharaj on the bench after being left out of the previous Test.

Form and head-to-head

Australia won the most recent meeting on 9 October by 214 runs, after scoring 390 and 314/6 against South Africa's 284 and 206. South Africa had won the two matches before that on 24 September and 27 September, by 67 runs and 32 runs. Australia won the match on 30 September by 45 runs (DLS Method due to rain).

The last Test between the sides in the records is the World Test Championship Final in June 2025, which South Africa won by 5 wickets.

At this venue, according to the ABC, Australia have won 10 of the 14 Tests played at Newlands but only one of their last four there. Cricket Australia notes that South Africa have alternated between wins and losses in their past five men's Tests at Newlands, and Australia have lost three of their past four games at the venue.

Captain and vice-captain picks

Our earlier preview did not name captain or vice-captain picks, so we are not putting forward a firm captain or vice-captain here. Travis Head is worth a look for the armband: according to Cricket Australia, he has scored 1,145 runs at an average of 49.8 when opening in men's Tests. Kagiso Rabada is a bowling option if he makes the XI, as Cricket Australia lists him in South Africa's possible XI. Confirm both after the toss.