AUS vs SA 1st ODI: Playing 11 & August 19 Match Preview

South Africa are set to face Australia in the 1st ODI of the three-match series on August 19 at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns. After having won the recently concluded T20I series by a 2-1 margin, Australia are out to defy the visitors, and a win in the 1st ODI will help them gain momentum before the action shifts to Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay.

What is the Context of the AUS vs SA match?

Both teams are in transition with new players coming into the fold. For Australia, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell have retired from ODIs. Also, the likes of Mitchell Owen, Spencer Johnson and Matt Short are injured. Apart from that, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Sean Abbott, and Tanveer Sangha have been left out of the squad.

South Africa have their ODI skipper back in Temba Bavuma. He was last seen in the ICC World Test Championship final, helping SA win the trophy. Alongside Bavuma, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder and top-order batters Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi have been drafted in. The rest of the side is similar to the just-concluded T20I series.

In terms of the H2H record, Australia and South Africa have met 110 times in ODI cricket. The tally has been tight. Australia have won 51 matches to South Africa’s 55. Three matches have been tied, with one game not seeing a result.

The 1st ODI match will start at 10:00am IST on August 19 in Cairns.

Australia – Probable Playing XI

Travis Head: After a lean T20I series, Travis Head will aim to be amongst the runs and improve his game. Head owns a superb 43.92 average in ODIs with a strike rate of 104.89.

Mitchell Marsh (c): Skipper Mitchell Marsh did well for his side in the 3rd T20I, hammering a fifty. It played a role in helping Australia win. In 93 ODIs, he has 2794 runs at 35-plus.

Marnus Labuschagne: After being dropped from the Test side, Marnus Labuschagne will have a point to prove. He owns 35.94 average in ODIs for the Aussies. 

Josh Inglis: The batter posted two ducks in his two outings in T20Is versus SA. Australia will hope he comes good in this series.

Cameron Green: The all-rounder has a key role to play with bat and ball. He averages over 39 in ODIs with the bat from 24 innings.

Alex Carey: The senior Aussie star is vastly experienced and will aim to provide the finishing touches. He owns 2149 runs from 80 ODIs.

Ben Dwarshuis: After a decent T20I series, Ben Dwarshuis will want to shine with the ball again. He owns 9 wickets from 5 ODIs at 24.11.

Nathan Ellis: The pacer was solid in the final T20I versus SA. Ellis may have done enough to make the cut. He has 15 ODI scalps under his belt.

Xavier Bartlett: In two ODIs, he has 8 scalps at just 19.77. He owns 2 four-fer already in ODIs from these two games.

Josh Hazlewood: The experienced pacer will lead the line. He averages 27-plus from 91 matches with 138 wickets captured to date.

Adam Zampa: The right-arm spinner has a crucial role up his sleeve. Zampa had a good T20I series and will now want to weave his magic in ODIs. He has 187 ODI wickets at 28.56.

Player to watch out for (Adam Zampa)

The star spinner has 11 four-fers and a fifer in ODIs. He remains a massive threat to SA.

Predicted South Africa Playing XI  

Ryan Rickelton: The southpaw will be keen to showcase his ODI credentials. In 9 ODIs, he has 335 runs at 37.22. He owns one ton and a fifty.  

Matthew Breetzke: Just two ODIs old, Breetzke has already made 233 runs at 115-plus. He owns one ton and a fifty.

Aiden Markram: The star cricketer failed to perform well in the T20I series. Now in a different format, he holds the key for his side. He has 2371 runs at 37.04.

Temba Bavuma (c): The skipper returns for SA. Bavuma owns 1847 runs from 48 ODIs at an impressive 43-plus with 5 tons under his belt.

Dewald Brevis: He was the game changer for SA in the T20I series, hammering a century and a fifty in the 2nd and 3rd matches. He is set to make his ODI debut after what he did in the T20Is.

Tristan Stubbs: Stubbs remains a key player for SA. He had a decent T20I series, scoring valuable runs. In 9 ODIs, he has 245 runs for SA.

Corbin Bosch: He will have a key role for SA. The bowling all-rounder claimed a three-wicket haul in the 2nd and 3rd T20Is.

Wiaan Mulder: The all-rounder recently smashed a triple hundred for SA in Tests against Zimbabwe. In ODIs, he has 2 fifties. With the ball, he owns 22 wickets at 35.13.

Keshav Maharaj: He makes a return after playing in the Zimbabwe Test series. In ODIs, he owns 58 wickets from 48 games. He averages 32.51. 

Kagiso Rabada In 106 ODIs, Kagiso Rabada owns 168 wickets at 27.45. Rabada will lead the pace attack for SA. He owns 30 ODI scalps vs SA.

Lungi Ngidi: The right-arm pacer has quality experience in ODIs. In 67 games, he owns 103 scalps for SA. He averages 29.30.

Player to watch out for (Dewald Brevis)

The batter smashed 14 sixes in the T20I series vs Australia. Brevis will hope to come good if he gets a chance to make his debut in ODIs.

Pitch Report & Venue Conditions 

The Cazaly’s Stadium pitch usually offers early assistance for pacers, with swing and bounce. Pacers could make the most of these conditions in the 1st powerplay. As the match wears on, the pitch tends to dry out and flatten, making stroke play easier for batters. Spinners are likely to have an impact in the middle overs.

Match Prediction – Who Has the Upper Hand?

The Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns, is set to host its 6th ODI match. Australia have won all of their 5 ODIs before this. For SA, it’s their first ODI here.

FAQs About AUS vs SA Playing 11

Who is not playing in the AUS vs SA clash?

For SA, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Senuran Muthusamy, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, and Prenelan Subrayen are expected to sit out. For Australia, Cooper Connolly will warm the bench alongside Matthew Kuhnemann and Aaron Hardie.

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