The third Test match between Australia and South Africa began with a challenging start for the Australian side. After captain Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bowl, South Africa's opening batsmen dominated the morning session, reaching 140 runs before lunch. This decision initially drew comparisons to historically poor tactical choices by captains in previous Test series.

However, the momentum shifted significantly during the afternoon and evening sessions. Australia’s bowling attack successfully contained the South African lineup, taking the remaining ten wickets for 189 runs. Mitchell Starc played a pivotal role in the recovery, particularly against the lower order, where he claimed four wickets in six balls. South Africa was eventually bowled out for a total of 329 runs. While the BBC focuses on the tactical relief for Cummins, The Guardian provides a more detailed historical context regarding the risks associated with the captain's decision to bowl first.