South Africa start as favourites in key clash against Australia
Tuesday’s clash between South Africa and Australia is a big one with the winners almost certain to advance to the semi-finals. Both sides won their opening games, South Africa against Afghanistan and Australia against England. Both sides were fairly convincing in the way they went about their victories as well, Australia completing the highest ever chase in an ICC event while South Africa saw off Afghanistan by 107 runs.
Australia have arrived in Pakistan with a very under-strength side. They are missing skipper Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Mitch Marsh through injury. There is also no Marcus Stoinis who announced his retirement shortly before the start of the tournament. In short, it is a side shorn of a lot of key names. Adam Zampa aside their bowling line-up is the least experienced fielded by the Baggy Greens in a very long time.
South Africa played their opening game without their top ranked batsman Heinrich Klaasen. He picked up a muscle injury in the tri-series and management opted not to risk him in the opener against Afghanistan. In his absence Ryan Rickelton kept wicket and scored a ton. If Klaasen passes a fitness test on Monday, he is likely to replace Tony De Zorzi, with Temba Bavuma moving up to open alongside Rickelton.
Both sides come into the game on the back of wins. Before those wins however, each side was on a miserable run of defeats. South Africa’s run of losses however is dominated by a second-string outfit who failed to win in the tri-series against New Zealand and Pakistan. Playing without Kagiso Rabada, Rickelton, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Rassie van der Dussen and Tristan Stubbs. Australia was also understrength, due to the injuries mentioned, but their poor results in Sri Lanka were with the strongest line-up they had available.
South Africa v Australia | 7th Match ICC Champions Trophy | Tuesday 25 February 2025 | Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi | 11:00am
Venue:
Tuesday’s encounter is set to be played at Rawalpindi. It’s a venue where Australia have played just one – they suffered a nine-wicket defeat at the hands of Pakistan back in 1994. South Africa meanwhile have played six games at the venue and suffered just one loss. Critically, each of the Proteas last five games at the venue have been wins.
Historically there is not a huge amount in it between batting first or second. Of the 27 ODI’s played in Rawalpindi the side batting first has won 11 while the side chasing has won 14. On 15 occasions the skipper who won the toss chose to bat first.
Form (most recent game first):
South Africa: W, L, L, L, L.
Australia: W, L, L, L, L.
Key players
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton
Australia will no doubt be targeting Rickelton, but given his recent run of form it’s hard not to back him to be the top scorer of the game once again. Rickelton was on fire in the SA20, he banged a double ton against Pakistan in the New Year Test and he scored 103 at the top of the innings against
Afghanistan. He is brimming with confidence at the moment seemingly never surer where the middle of his bat it. Having extraordinary depth around him only makes his job easier – Rickelton knows that if he chances his arm and it doesn’t work that he has the likes of Bavuma, David miller, Klaasen, Markram, Jansen and Mulder to come – all of whom have been in good recent touch.
Australia: Marnus Labuschagne
The South African born Labuschagne is a man who likes to bat against his former countrymen. Labuschagne has a career average of 36.07 in ODI’s, but his numbers against South Africa are significantly better at 55.11. He had a good game in the opener against England, taking two wickets with the ball and scoring 47. With so many players missing, Labuschagne is now a senior member of the batting line-up alongside Steve Smith and Travis Head, and he will be eager to show his worth against the Proteas once again.
Verdict: South Africa
These are two highly competitive sides who love beating each other. But the Proteas have the depth and the experience – their bowling attack is better, they boast incredible all-round depth with Mulder and Jansen and, for one, they can objectively claim to have the better batting lineup.
