# Cummins concerns and weaknesses to target – takeaways from SA-Australia

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/cummins-concerns-and-weaknesses-to-target-takeaways-from-sa-australia/
- Published: 2026-11-01T06:29:50+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-01T07:38:44+00:00
- Original publisher: BBC Sport (publisher lean: Centre)
- Original article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cm1j3yd6994yo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
- Topics: Africa, Entertainment, Sport, TV, UK, World

## Key points

- South Africa beat Australia and regained the top Test ranking.
- Cummins’s form and Australia’s ageing attack face scrutiny.
- Harmer’s ten wickets point to spin as a possible route for England.

## Summary

South Africa beat Australia in the final Test to win an enthralling series, reclaim the top spot in the Test rankings and underline their strength ahead of England’s winter tour. The result also exposed questions about Australia’s ageing attack and captain Pat Cummins’s form, while offering England clues about where South Africa can be challenged.

Cummins went more than 62 overs between wickets and averaged 53.66 with the ball, although his expected-wickets figures suggest he bowled better than those numbers show. In Cape Town, off-spinner Simon Harmer took 10-120 on a turning pitch, and South African captain Temba Bavuma was dismissed by off-spin in four of five innings. South Africa also lost seven wickets to short balls in the third Test, another potential avenue for England to explore.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.