NEWLANDS, CAPE TOWN — In the storied history of Australian cricket, a landscape defined by the legacies of Bradman, Ponting, and Gilchrist, a new chapter was written on Thursday under the shadows of Table Mountain. Josh Inglis, the dynamic wicketkeeper-batter, solidified his status as a multi-format juggernaut, etching his name into the record books by becoming the first Australian to register at least two centuries in each of the three international formats of the game.
The milestone, achieved during the series-deciding third Test against South Africa at Newlands, served as the centerpiece of a commanding display by the tourists. Inglis’s brilliant 102 off 135 balls steered Australia to a first-innings total of 429, granting them a vital 100-run lead over the Proteas, who were dismissed for 329 earlier in the match.
A Historic Entrance into Elite Territory
Inglis reached his second Test century with trademark audacity, employing a reverse sweep against the wily off-spin of Simon Harmer. The stroke—a quintessential modern-cricket shot—was a fitting climax to an innings that pulsed with intent. Across his 135-ball stay, Inglis struck 11 boundaries and two towering sixes, proving once and for all that his white-ball prowess is more than matched by his red-ball temperament.
This achievement places Inglis in a category of one. While Australian cricket has boasted titans of the game who dominated across formats, the “multi-century” criteria proved a bridge too far for even the most celebrated power hitters. Legends like Glenn Maxwell, with his five T20I hundreds and four ODI centuries, fell short of the mark with only a single Test ton to his name. Former white-ball captain Aaron Finch, despite a stellar limited-overs record featuring 17 ODI hundreds and two T20I centuries, never managed to crack a Test triple-figure score.
Inglis’s statistical profile now stands as a testament to his versatility: two Test centuries (286 runs at 35.75), two ODI centuries (1,100 runs at 30.55), and two T20I centuries (1,033 runs at 26.48). It is a rare harmony of aggression and technical discipline that has finally cemented his place as a permanent fixture in the Australian selection hierarchy.
The Resilience of a Comeback
The magnitude of Inglis’s feat is amplified by the adversity he faced leading up to this performance. His inclusion in the starting XI for this series decider was by no means guaranteed; he had spent nearly a year on the fringes of the Test squad following the 2025 Ashes.
The road back was physically taxing. A fractured finger, sustained during the preceding ODI series against South Africa, threatened to derail his momentum entirely. However, after undergoing a rigorous recovery process, Inglis was called upon by the selectors as part of a four-man shake-up that also saw the return of Cameron Green, Nathan Lyon, and Cooper Connolly.
Entering the crease under the pressure of a live-rubber series decider, Inglis didn’t merely survive; he thrived. Alongside a composed Alex Carey, who contributed a valuable 80, Inglis dismantled the South African bowling attack, turning a precarious situation into a position of total control. By the time he fell to Harmer—his reverse-sweep architect—the momentum of the game had shifted firmly into Australian hands.
Strategic Implications for the Series
Australia’s total of 429 in 125.1 overs leaves the South African side with a daunting mountain to climb. Having conceded a 100-run lead, the Proteas are now forced to navigate the final days of the match against an Australian attack buoyed by the momentum of a dominant batting display.
The Newlands surface, while traditionally known for its pace, has offered a fair contest between bat and ball, and Inglis’s ability to manipulate the field and rotate the strike proved to be the difference-maker. For the Australian camp, the sight of their wicketkeeper-batter thriving in the longest format brings a sense of tactical relief. With a deep batting lineup and a rejuvenated bowling core, the visitors appear poised to seize the series.
As the dust settles at Newlands, the narrative is undoubtedly centered on the 29-year-old from Leeds, whose journey from a Perth Scorchers star to a historic, three-format centurion is now a defining story of modern Australian cricket. Whether standing up to the stumps or standing firm at the crease, Josh Inglis has signaled to the cricketing world that he is no longer just a specialist—he is an all-format master.
The stage is now set for a gripping conclusion to the series, but regardless of the final result, the name Josh Inglis will forever be associated with this landmark afternoon in Cape Town.
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