Aussies and South Africa return to ODI action for first time since February
Australia v South Africa | 1st ODI | 19 August | Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns | 06:30am
Tuesday’s game is the first game of a three match ODI series. The teams head into the game in Cairns on the back of a T20I series that was won 2-1 by Australia.
Neither Australia nor South Africa have played an ODI since February when they both lost in the semifinals of the Champions Trophy.
Australia is currently the third ranked ODI side in the world while South Africa is ranked sixth.
South Africa have won three of the last five ODIs between the two sides, with Australia winning one and the other game being abandoned.
Dewald Brevis who was in scintillating form in the T20I series looks set to make his ODI debut in Tuesday’s opening game of the series.
Given their collective lack of recent ODI action, there are no Proteas or Australian batters in the top ten of the ICC rankings. The best ranked batsman on show in Cairns will be Travis Head who is 12th on the list.
South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj is the third ranked bowler in the ICC ODI rankings.
Temba Bavuma, who injured his hamstring in the final of the World Test Championship will be back to lead the Proteas for the ODI series. It will be his first action since the famous win over Australia at Lords.
Opener Aiden Markram comes into the series with some questions over his form – he has only two half-centuries in his last 16 ODI innings going all the way back to the 2023 World Cup.
This will be South Africa’s first ODI outing since the retirement of Heinrich Klaasen while for Australia it is their first ODI since Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell called time on their ODI careers.
Australia have had to make three changes to the squad they initially named with Mitchell Owen forced out with concussion, while Matt Short and Lance Morris are injured.
Venue: Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns
Tuesday game between Australia and South Africa will be only the sixth ever ODI to be played at the venue.
The highest ODI score posted at the venue is 267 for five, made by Australia against New Zealand.
The lowest ever score recorded at the venue was a dismal 82 all out by New Zealand in 2022.
The average first innings score at the ground is 189.
The team batting second has won three of the five games played at the venue.
Australia have never been beaten in five games at the Cazaly Stadium.
Tuesday’s outing will be Sout Africa’s first ODI at the ground.
The captain who won the toss has opted to field first in four of the five games played at the venue.
Weather:
Good weather is predicted for Cairns on Tuesday with the maximum, as high as 27 degrees. There is no rain predicted, and the breeze will be moderate. All-in-all it looks ideal conditions for cricket.
Form (most recent game first):
Australia: L, NR, A, W, L.
South Africa: L, W, A, W, L.
Key player:
Australia, Mitchell Marsh: Marsh’s form appeared to get better-and-better during the T20I series and he will hope to continue his upward curve in the ODI series. He scored 54 in the final game of the T20I series at Cairns and he seems to be thriving with the responsibility of captaincy. He has a highest ODI score of 177 and an average of 35.82. He will be looking to deliver a statement performance on Tuesday.
South Africa, Wiaan Mulder: Mulder’s last action for South Africa was in the Test series in Zimbabwe where he smashed a massive 367 not out. While he made a big impact during the Zimbabwe Test series, his ODI numbers are a whole lot less impressive. He averages just 18.4 with the bat in the format. But he will have taken huge confidence from the performance in Zimbabwe. He is also more than just a batsman as his bowling is tight and accurate and perfect for the format. At the Champions Trophy Mulder was South Africa’s joint highest wicket-taker showing exactly how important he is to the balance of the team.
Verdict: South Africa
These are two teams going through changes and rebuilding. While Australia has a good record in Cairns, South Africa has a good recent ODI record against Australia. The arrival of Dewald Brevis on the international stage could also be significant. His form in the T20I series was outstanding and if he can transfer that into the ODI realm it bodes well for South Africa. Expect a close game.
