Josh Inglis scores comeback century in SA vs AUS series decider at Cape Town
Synopsis
Josh Inglis's 102 off 132 balls in the Cape Town series decider did more than hand Australia a first-innings lead — it made him the only Australian in history to score multiple centuries in all three international formats, leapfrogging Maxwell and Finch in a record that may stand for years.
Key Takeaways
Josh Inglis scored a 132-ball century (102) in the first innings of the third Test against South Africa at Newlands, Cape Town on 29 October 2026 .
Inglis is now the first Australian cricketer to score multiple centuries in all three international formats (T20I, ODI, and Test).
His previous Test ton came against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka; he had been out of Test cricket for nearly a year due to a fractured finger .
Glenn Maxwell (5 T20I tons, 4 ODI tons, 1 Test ton) and Aaron Finch (2 T20I tons, 17 ODI tons, 0 Test tons) both fall short of the multi-format century benchmark.
Australia took a first-innings lead against South Africa's 329 , with Inglis dismissed by Simon Harmer for 102 after hitting 11 fours and 2 sixes .
Australian wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis scripted history at Newlands, Cape Town on 29 October 2026, becoming the first Australian cricketer to score multiple centuries across all three international formats after registering a 132-ball hundred in the first innings of the series-deciding third Test against South Africa. The knock helped Australia seize a first-innings lead in a match that will determine the series outcome.
A Record-Making Return
Inglis had last featured in a Test during the 2025 Ashes at home, sitting out for nearly a year before making a comeback to the playing XI for this decider. His absence was partly due to a fractured finger sustained during the ODI series against South Africa that immediately preceded this Test. Recalled alongside Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon, and Cooper Connolly as Australia made four changes, Inglis wasted no time in justifying his selection.
His second Test century — the first came against Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka — elevates him above every other Australian batter in the record books for multi-format hundred-scoring. Notably, Glenn Maxwell, who boasts 5 T20I centuries and 4 ODI centuries, has only one Test ton, scored against India in 2017. Aaron Finch, the other Australian with multiple T20I hundreds (2), also holds 17 ODI centuries but never converted in Tests. That gap makes Inglis alone in Australian cricket history.
How the Innings Unfolded
Chasing South Africa's first-innings total of 329, Australia were placed at 184/3 when Inglis walked to the crease, with Cameron Green falling to off-spinner Simon Harmer for 65. Two quick wickets on Day 2 reduced Australia to 185/4, but Inglis steadied the ship in partnership with fellow wicketkeeper Alex Carey, taking the side to a competitive position by stumps.
He resumed strongly on Day 3, reaching his century with a reverse sweep off Harmer — a shot that underscored his confidence and enterprise. Inglis struck 11 fours and 2 sixes before Harmer had the last laugh, dismissing him for 102. By that point, Australia had already taken a first-innings lead, putting them in the driver's seat in the series decider.
Why This Milestone Matters
The record Inglis now holds is a rarity in world cricket, let alone Australian cricket. Scoring multiple centuries in each of the three formats demands consistent excellence across vastly different conditions, formats, and pressure environments. This achievement comes at a particularly significant moment — a comeback innings in a deciding Test on South African soil, where batting has historically been demanding.
The innings also reinforces Australia's depth and flexibility at number five or six, a position that has been a revolving door in their Test set-up in recent cycles.
What Happens Next
With Australia holding a first-innings lead after Inglis's knock, the remaining days of the Cape Town Test will determine who takes the series. South Africa will need a strong second-innings response to stay in contention. The result will also have implications for the ICC World Test Championship standings.
Point of View
And T20I centuries are structurally easier to accumulate than Test tons. But that framing undersells what happened at Newlands: a batter returning from a fractured finger, dropped for nearly a year, walked into a series-deciding Test and immediately delivered under pressure. Australia's middle-order fragility in Tests has been a recurring concern; Inglis's century does not solve the structural issue, but it does complicate the selection conversation going forward. The bigger question is whether this innings marks a permanent return or another cameo before the next rotation cycle.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What record did Josh Inglis set in the Cape Town Test?
Josh Inglis became the first Australian cricketer to score multiple centuries across all three international formats — T20Is, ODIs, and Tests — after hitting his second Test hundred (102 off 132 balls) at Newlands, Cape Town on 29 October 2026.
Why had Inglis not played Test cricket for nearly a year?
Inglis last featured in a Test during the 2025 Ashes at home. He was subsequently sidelined with a fractured finger sustained during the ODI series against South Africa and was recalled for the series-deciding third Test as one of four changes to the Australian XI.
How do Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch compare to Inglis on this record?
Maxwell has 5 T20I centuries and 4 ODI centuries but only 1 Test ton (against India in 2017). Finch has 2 T20I centuries and 17 ODI centuries but never scored a Test hundred. Neither qualifies as having multiple centuries in all three formats, making Inglis unique among Australians.
What was the match situation when Inglis came in to bat?
Australia were 184/3 when Inglis arrived, with Cameron Green just dismissed by Simon Harmer for 65. After two quick wickets reduced Australia to 185/4 on Day 2, Inglis partnered Alex Carey to stabilise the innings before accelerating on Day 3 to reach his century.
What is the significance of this Test for Australia and South Africa?
The Cape Town Test is the third and deciding match of the series. Australia's first-innings lead, boosted by Inglis's century, puts them in a strong position. The result will also affect both teams' standing in the ICC World Test Championship.
