An Oddsworth Opinion
What the South Africa defeats really say about Australia's Test attack
Australia's selectors face a plain choice after the South Africa tour: refresh the Test attack now, or take the same bowlers through to the 2027 Ashes. The bowling in that series answers it, because South Africa batted five times against Australia and were bowled out in four of those innings.
That record came during a rough few months for the side. After beating England comfortably last winter, Australia lost to Bangladesh by nine wickets in August and then lost the last two Tests in South Africa, by an innings and 31 runs and by 176 runs.
- WEnglandWon by 8 wickets v England, 2025-11-21
- WEnglandWon by 8 wickets v England, 2025-12-04
- WEnglandWon by 82 runs v England, 2025-12-17
- LEnglandLost by 4 wickets v England, 2025-12-26
- WEnglandWon by 5 wickets v England, 2026-01-04
- LBangladeshLost by 9 wickets v Bangladesh, 2026-08-13
- WBangladeshWon by an innings and 51 runs v Bangladesh, 2026-08-22
- WSouth AfricaWon by 214 runs v South Africa, 2026-10-09
- LSouth AfricaLost by an innings and 31 runs v South Africa, 2026-10-18
- LSouth AfricaLost by 176 runs v South Africa, 2026-10-27
Where did the South Africa series go wrong?
The series was lost with the bat. At St George's Park Australia were bowled out for 99 in 42.3 overs, which left the match gone before the bowlers could do much about it. At Newlands they made 429 to take a first-innings lead, then folded for 111 in the final innings.
Any defence of the attack needs tempering, because it did leak runs. South Africa made 425 for nine at St George's Park, and at Newlands they batted 134.4 overs for 387 in their second innings, which is a long stint in the field for any attack.
Yet the bowlers kept taking wickets when it mattered. At Kingsmead they dismissed South Africa for 284 and 206 to set up a 214-run win, and at Newlands they bowled them out for 329 so the batters could build a lead. An attack that bowls South Africa out in both innings of an away Test, and does it again in the first innings of the final Test, is still doing its job.
Should Australia change their bowling before the 2027 Ashes?
Paradoxically, the series that raised the question points at the other half of the side. Both defeats turned on an Australian innings that was over well inside a day's play, so a selector looking for a weak link has a clearer place to start than the bowling. Breaking up an attack that kept bowling South Africa out on their own pitches would fix the part of the side that held up.
Keeping the attack together is the rational choice. Australia's bowlers have earned their run to the 2027 Ashes. The rebuilding, when it comes, should begin with the batting order.