In the third Test match against South Africa at Newlands on Thursday, Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis made history by scoring his second Test century. After being out of the Test team for almost a year, Inglis struck a century off 132 balls in the opening innings to give Australia a vital lead. Inglis became the first Australian cricket player to score multiple hundreds in all three international formats after the hit. After scoring his first century against Sri Lanka in 2025, this was his second Test century.
Cameron Green had just left for 65 when Inglis arrived, leaving Australia at 184 for 3. Before the total changed to 185 for 4, he and Alex Carey shared 185 runs for the fifth wicket. By the time Harmer caught Inglis for 102, Australia had taken a significant lead over South Africa’s first-innings total of 329.
Australia changed their starting lineup four times for this game, adding Inglis, Cooper Connolly, Nathan Lyon, and Cameron Green. It had been almost a year since Inglis last played in a Test, during the 2025 Ashes. He missed the first two Tests of the current series due to a fractured finger he sustained during the ODI series against South Africa, which made his century upon his return all the more noteworthy.
On Day 2, Inglis and Alex Carey worked together to stabilise the innings after Australia fell to 185/4, giving the visitors a commanding position by stumps. On Day 3, Inglis maintained his excellent form, reaching his century off 132 balls. A reverse sweep off Harmer marked the milestone. Later, Australia gained a crucial first-innings lead when Harmer dismissed him for 102, an innings that included 11 fours and two sixes.
In 2025, Inglis earned his first Test century at Galle against Sri Lanka. In just his third Test match against South Africa, he received his second knock in the format. After recovering from injuries to play in a third Test match against South Africa, Inglis has now accomplished something that neither Maxwell nor Finch were able to do during their whole careers.
