Australia crushed South Africa by 214 runs in Durban and still head to the second Test with more questions than answers. Ahead of Sunday's clash at St George's Park in Gqeberha, head coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed that all-rounder Cameron Green still has to prove his fitness, and that the batting order remains an open discussion. It is an unusual position for a team that has just taken a 1-0 series lead, but it reflects a selection panel that is winning while tinkering, and the debate is only getting louder.

The Durban experiment was the boldest of the tour. Nic Maddinson, playing his first Test in nearly ten years, was handed the opener's slot alongside Travis Head, while regular opener Matt Renshaw was dropped down to No. 5. The gamble worked spectacularly: Renshaw played the innings of the match with 190 in the first innings and 82 in the second, and even claimed his first Test wicket by dismissing Temba Bavuma. Australia posted 390, bowled South Africa out for 284, declared at 314 for 6, and then finished the job with Hazlewood's 6 for 49. Victory has a way of justifying experiments, but McDonald says the Gqeberha surface will decide whether the order stays or changes.

Not everyone is convinced the tinkering should continue. Former captain Steve Waugh has publicly told the selectors to stop messing around with the top order, arguing that the reshuffling has not worked for two years and that Renshaw should simply stay at No. 5, where he has been successful and comfortable. It is a pick-and-stick philosophy, and Waugh's voice carries weight in Australian cricket. The counterargument is obvious: the move produced a 214-run win, with Renshaw's two innings doing most of the damage. Our Durban Test report captured how the first four days unfolded before the final-day rout.

Cameron Green's fitness is the other half of the puzzle. The all-rounder remains under a fitness cloud, and his availability decides whether Australia can field five bowling options without weakening the batting. If Green is fit, the balance of the side transforms; if not, the selectors must choose between batting depth and bowling variety. There was also a scare for Steve Smith in Durban after he was struck on the helmet by Anrich Nortje, but he passed his mandatory concussion assessment and was back practising, which settles at least one selection headache.

The wider context adds spice. Australia sit top of the WTC 2025-27 standings after the Durban win, and a series victory in South Africa would be a powerful statement following last year's World Test Championship final defeat to these same opponents. South Africa, meanwhile, have already reshuffled, dropping Tristan Stubbs, recalling Matthew Breetzke and handing Ryan Rickelton the gloves. The Gqeberha Test is shaping as a tactical battle as much as a cricket match, with both camps adjusting line-ups and combinations under pressure.

Sunday's toss could be the moment everything crystallises. If Green is declared fit and the batting order holds, Australia will look formidable; if the selectors reshuffle again, Waugh's criticism will only grow louder. For context on how series-defining Tests swing on selection calls, our Afghanistan vs Bangladesh Day 5 coverage is a reminder of how fine the margins are, and for domestic form lines, the New South Wales vs Tasmania preview tracks the Sheffield Shield players pushing for national attention.