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After a resounding win in their first game back to international cricket, Australia will look to add another to their kitty when they take on South Africa in their second game on Wednesday. Join The Roar from 5:30pm (AEST) for live scores and commentary.
Australia’s last win was more than just resounding. in fact, it was a pummeling. A definition of a rout. An exhibition of the chasm that exists between the two sides on show that day.
Australia can expect a step-up in quality when take field for their second ODI, however, against South Africa. In fact, it will be in this game it will be tested whether their rustiness has been shrugged off.
To be honest, there were no signs in either their batting or bowling to suggest they had been away for a considerable length of time.
Brad Haddin started off slow but caught on later, Aaron Finch was his usual aggressive-self, Glenn Maxwell made bowlers’ lives miserable thanks to his unorthodox batting and then there was Mitchell Marsh who batted at three, combining aplomb and maturity of a 250-match veteran.
Marsh also won the man of the match award for that effort.
Mitchell Johnson pegged the Zimbabwe back with the ball, Mitchell Starc and Marsh bowled reasonably well, while James Faulkner also picked up a scalp.
And while Nathan Lyon went for a few, it could be put down to the fact he was playing in his first ODI after a considerable gap and he did manage to pick up a couple of wickets too. Steven Smith came on to bowl later and added three to his career tally.
The convincing nature of that win and the fact that Australia did not need an extra batsman during the game means that there’s every chance the side will look to keep Phil Hughes yet again. Michael Clarke, however, may not be fit enough to lead the side and won’t return for this one either, allowing the management to not make any change to the XI.
Unlike Australia, South Africa have been around, featuring in international cricket in recent times. Following the World T20 in Bangladesh they toured Sri Lanka and won both, the Test and the ODI series in that country. And then as a part of a warm-up for this tri-series they took on and crushed Zimbabwe 3-0 in a three-match series.
The good news for the South African side is that they will have Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel back for this one but there will be no place for the injured Vernon Philander. It will be interesting to see who will they replace to make it back to the playing XI – they have Kyle Abbott, Wayne Parnell and Ryan McLaren to choose from.
Hashim Amla was rested from the third ODI against Zimbabwe and should return in place of Rilee Rossouw while captain AB de Villiers will also be back and take the place of David Miller in the line-up.
Interestingly, the last time these two sides had met was in the final game of their three-match series in October 2011 – yes, it’s been almost three years since they played each other in this format. Australia had won that game and hence the series 2-1.
Overall, Australia hold a slight edge on head to head, having won 41 out of the 80 matches between these two sides, with South Africa having won just 36.
What makes it interesting is that only two players from that Australian XI will take part in this game, while South Africa still have five of those players available to them – a pointer towards the way time has flown by.
Join me for this 2nd ODI between Australia and Zimbabwe on Monday here and you can follow the live score of this game from 5.30 pm and post your comments below.
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