Rabada ill and Jansen sore as Proteas pay the price

South Africa struggled with bowler fitness on day two of the third Test against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town. Kagiso Rabada suffered from stomach cramps, leaving the field three times and conceding 81 runs across 18 wicketless overs, while Marco Jansen received on-field treatment for back stiffness. Australia capitalized on the depleted attack to reach 4-330 at stumps in reply to South Africa's first-innings total of 329.

Despite his physical discomfort, Jansen dismissed Matt Renshaw for 74 and Cameron Green for 65 in consecutive overs. Proteas bowling coach Piet Botha rated the team's bowling effort six out of 10, noting fatigue from three weeks of cricket and a lack of lateral movement on the pitch as Australia took the series-deciding lead.