Travis Head calls for collective batting effort from Australia ahead of Cape Town Test

Australia’s Test vice-captain Travis Head has urged his teammates to put up a collective batting performance in the upcoming third Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Australia were bundled out for just 98 in the second Test in Gqeberha and eventually lost the match by an innings and 31 runs, allowing South Africa to level the series 1-1.

Ahead of the series decider third Test, Head acknowledged Australia’s overdependence on individual brilliance rather than putting up a collective batting performance. The Pat Cummins-led side has failed to register two fifty-plus individual scores in the same innings across their last four Tests.

"Think we've spoken as a group going into the series that we've sort of had one individual each time. They've always been different individuals, and we haven't been able to get that collective batting day that we would desire as a team,” Head was quoted as saying by Cricinfo.

Head praised Scott Boland’s heroic effort in the Gqeberha Test as the night watcher toiled hard scoring 40 (166) after Australia were asked to follow-on.

"That's what does win you games, individual performance, but as a collective we need to be able to also [do it]. I thought what Baz [Scott Boland] did [40 in over three hours from No. 6 in the second innings in Gqeberha]… was exceptional for the team. A little bit more [of the] supportive roles go a long way, we just haven't been able to find that,” he added.

In their last four Tests, Australia have had only four 50-plus partnerships involving two top five batters. Notably, four of Australia's top nine partnerships in the ongoing series have featured frontline bowlers.

Third Test begins on October 27

"It's something that the team have been really good at over a long period of time, is being able to build big partnerships, substantial partnerships that win games at cricket. We just haven't been able to find that in the last couple of months. It's very hard to put a finger on why. We're playing some exceptional attacks in some trying conditions but it's not a lack of trying,” said Head.

Despite losing the second Test, Australia maintain top position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points table for the 2025-27 cycle. Both teams will now head into the third Test beginning on October 27 at Newlands, Cape Town.