Australia need 'a couple of weeks' to digest South Africa series defeat, says Pat Cummins

Australia captain Pat Cummins said his team will need a couple of weeks to digest their series defeat to South Africa, who completed a turnaround to win the three-Test series 2-1 in Cape Town on Saturday. The decider was played at Newlands.

Australia arrived in South Africa aiming to consolidate their position at the top of the World Test Championship standings and began the tour with a 214-run victory in the opening Test in Durban. Cummins acknowledged the challenge of playing away and reflected on the series: "I think we're a really good side. Tough opponents away from home. It's always really difficult. We came here very hopeful and thought we were good enough to win, but we weren't. We'll have a couple of weeks to digest it. South Africa vs Australia, 3rd Test Day 5: Highlights | Scorecard "A couple of big series coming up, but we're going back home, a place we obviously know well. But yeah, overall, relatively happy with how we're going," Cummins added.

South Africa responded in the second Test at Gqeberha, winning by an innings and 31 runs to level the series. In the third Test at Newlands Australia, chasing 288, were dismissed for 111 on the final day; Kagiso Rabada removed three top-order batters early and Simon Harmer took six wickets for 16 as he dismantled the middle and lower order, handing South Africa a 2-1 series victory.

The result affected Australia's standing in the current WTC cycle: they slipped from first to third as their points percentage fell to 69.23. New Zealand moved to the top with 72.22 per cent while South Africa rose to second on 71.43 per cent; Australia have 108 points from 13 Tests, with nine wins and four defeats recorded.

Australia still have nine Tests remaining in the current WTC cycle. They will next return to action in December when they host New Zealand in a four-Test series beginning on December 9 in Perth, with Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney to stage the remaining matches and the series due to conclude in January; Australia will then travel to India for a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in early 2027.