Australia return to Newlands for series-deciding third Test, with Steve Smith in focus

Mixed · 2Australia and South Africa begin the series-deciding third Test at Newlands, Cape Town, on Tuesday, with the series level at 1-1 after big wins for each side in the first two games. 1 2 Mixed · 2Newlands was the scene of the 2018 Sandpapergate ball-tampering scandal, and both reports say the contest may be as much mental as technical for several Australian players. 1 2 Mixed · 2Former captain Steve Smith was at the centre of the scandal and bore the brunt of the fallout; he is averaging a little over 20 with the bat on this tour, and the reports say he would see the match as a chance to put that right. 1 2

Centre · 1Current captain Pat Cummins, fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and spinner Nathan Lyon were also in the 2018 side; they say they had no knowledge of the attempt to alter the ball with sandpaper. 1 Mixed · 2Opener Travis Head said Smith "will be fine", pointing to his response in England in 2019, and said the team supports him because he has been through a lot and handles it well. 1 2 Centre · 1There has been little talk of Sandpapergate in South Africa so far, but that could change at Newlands, where ticket sales for the first three days are strong after sparse crowds at the first two Tests in Durban and Gqeberha. 1

Mixed · 2Wicketkeeper Alex Carey said the pitch looked another good surface, noting that Durban went five days and produced a contest between bat and ball. 1 2 Mixed · 2South Africa will be without fast bowler Anrich Nortje, who injured his groin in the second Test; captain Temba Bavuma said they would pick for the conditions from options including Gerald Coetzee, Dane Paterson, Corbin Bosch and Senuran Muthusamy. 1 2 Centre · 1No Test has been played at Newlands in October, and only three in November, all against Australia: Australia won in 1902 and 1921, and South Africa won by eight wickets in 2011, when Australia were bowled out for 47 in their second innings. 1