Australia face batting rethink as series levelled before Cape Town decider

Australia's batting order is under fresh scrutiny after a heavy second Test defeat levelled their series against South Africa at 1-1, with the decider now looming in Cape Town.

South Africa won the Gqeberha Test by an innings and 31 runs, according to BBC Cricket, bowling Australia out for 99 in the first innings before declaring on 425-9, built on Temba Bavuma's 179 and Marco Jansen's 85.

Scott Boland took 5-81 with the ball, but Australia were forced to follow on for only the third time this century. Travis Head's 121 and a defiant 166-ball vigil from nightwatchman Boland pushed the match into its final session, yet Kagiso Rabada (4-77) and Wiaan Mulder (3-64) completed the rout as Australia were dismissed for 295 in little more than three days of playing time around interruptions from rain.

Former Australia bowler Jason Gillespie told ABC Grandstand the defeat reflected deeper problems than a single bad performance. "It is not just this Test," he said. "We are talking about the batting and a lack of options and performance. Something will change."

Head coach Andrew McDonald declined to confirm whether changes were coming when asked on Wednesday, but offered little cover for his batting group, saying of their display: "I can't defend that."

South Africa making three changes of their own after losing the opening Test in Durban adds further context to the pressure now building on the Australian selection panel, according to the Guardian.

Marnus Labuschagne remains a central figure in the debate. He has managed three scores in the 30s from four innings this series but is averaging just 22.09, with his wait for a Test century now stretching beyond three years, the Guardian reported.

His dismissal in Gqeberha compounded the concern: with time at the crease Australia's best hope of saving the match, he was out attempting to loft Simon Harmer over long-on into a stiff breeze.

Amid the gloom, Australia have received a boost with Cameron Green declaring himself fit for the Cape Town Test, Yahoo Sports reported. The all-rounder has not yet been cleared to bowl following an abdominal muscle injury and is expected to return purely as a specialist batter.

Green named Nos 4 and 5 as his favoured positions in the order. "I think I'm well suited at four and five," he said, while indicating he was open to batting elsewhere if the team required it, having previously filled roles from No 3 to No 8 in his international career.

His return complicates Australia's combination, given Matt Renshaw scored 190 and 82 while covering for Green in the series opener, leaving selectors with a genuine headache over how to accommodate both players for the decider.

Australia travel to Cape Town knowing the series will be settled in the third Test, with the batting order the clearest area selectors must resolve before a line-up is settled for the finale.