Australia were all out for 99 on day four of the second Test in Gqeberha, and coach Andrew McDonald offered no excuses. Thirteen days earlier, before the series began, he called his batters the No.1-ranked team “for a reason.” After the collapse, he put it on them.
“There was some batter error there, and I think we are better than that, but as it sits right now, I can’t defend that.”
Andrew McDonald, day-four press conference, 21 October 2026
Andrew McDonald conceded Australia’s batting weaknesses had been exposed on the fourth day in Gqeberha
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It is Australia’s lowest first-innings total since they were bowled out for 85 in Hobart almost ten years ago. South Africa enforced the follow-on, the first time Australia have been asked to bat again since January 2019.
South Africa batted 127.1 overs for 425/9 declared. Temba Bavuma made 179 after the hosts had slipped to 110/6. Australia’s reply lasted 42.3 overs and finished 326 runs short.
| Bowler | Figures |
|---|---|
| Marco Jansen | 5/33 |
| Kagiso Rabada | 2/33 |
| Wiaan Mulder | 2/14 |
Australia were 22/3 when Marnus Labuschagne was caught at slip for 14. Matt Renshaw and Alex Carey fell a minute apart with the score on 65. Nic Maddinson and Carey both made ducks. Steve Smith top-scored with 28 before Mulder bowled him.
The scorecard shows the shots. It does not show what 127 overs in the field does to a batter’s judgement before he even takes guard.
McDonald said some of the shots would be taken back.
“Some of the shots that we played in the scenario, we knew we had a lot of work to do at the start of the day.”
Andrew McDonald, day-four press conference, 21 October 2026
Insider Read
After 127 overs in the field, your legs go first and your patience goes second. Australia walked out late on day three after more than a day and a half chasing the ball, needing to bat for a long time against 425. A draw keeps the series lead, so the job was simple: survive. For a tired batter, survival is the hardest instruction there is.
Every dot ball tightens the grip. When a ball rises, the hands go at it hard, not because the batter misread it but because the shot feels like relief from the waiting. That is the “scenario” McDonald meant. On a pitch he said “did not play too many tricks”, South Africa did not need to beat the bat. They only needed to keep the batters waiting until the edges carried to slip.
Where Australia Stand Before Day Five
Following on, Australia closed day four at 156/4, still 170 behind. Travis Head is unbeaten on 87, with Scott Boland on 2 as nightwatchman. Head and Labuschagne added 92 before Labuschagne was caught in the deep trying to hit Simon Harmer into the wind.
Smith did not bat in the second innings because of neck stiffness after edging Rabada. It is his second injury scare of the series after the blow to the head in Durban. McDonald said “he’ll bat tomorrow.”
Australia lead the three-match series 1-0 after winning in Durban by 214 runs. A draw here keeps that lead going into the third Test at Newlands, where Cameron Green and Josh Inglis are available.
“Disappointing, I think that’s the word that I’d use to sum it up.”
Andrew McDonald, day-four press conference, 21 October 2026
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