Overview

• South Africa captain Aiden Markram confirmed he will continue opening in the third T20I in Cairns with the series locked at 1-1.
• The reshuffle positions Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs in the middle overs after Brevis struck an unbeaten 125 in Darwin.
• Proteas management cited Markram’s IPL 2025 opening form—five fifties at a 148.82 strike rate—as justification for the move.
• Markram’s off-spin provided a breakthrough in the second match when he dismissed Travis Head.
• South Africa view the tactic as both a short-term series ploy and a step in building a more explosive lineup for the 2026 T20 World Cup.