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In what feels like yet another cut-and-paste series, the Australians will face off against the Proteas in a five match ODI Series following their triumph in the three T20s.
While both sides will undoubtedly rest key men at stages of the tournament, it is an opportunity for fringe players to impress as both sides look to solidify their squads for the World Cup in three months’ time.
Australia is looking to rest James Faulkner and Mitch Starc to give them time in Shield cricket, and have named a squad for the first two ODIs without a dedicated spinner, thanks to the WACA surface. Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell, George Bailey and Steve Smith are all keen to impress, with lots of heat being applied by plenty of batsmen during the domestic one day competition.
Matt Wade too will need to show purpose to restore the selectors’ faith.
South Africa will be without JP Duminy, who aggravated a knee injury during the T20 series, in which he captained the touring side. This will give an opportunity for South Africa to either give Rilee Rossouw or Farhaan Behardien a crack in the lower order, or even play both Ryan McLaren and Wayne Parnell in the same side in a head to head competition for the allrounder spot.
They’ve named a full strength Top 5, a line-up which has been decimating sides for 12 months.
Form (most recent match first)
Australia: WWWLWLLWWW
South Africa: NWWWWLWWWL
Both teams had success last up, with Australia beating Pakistan 3-0, and South Africa dispatching New Zealand in the first two games, before the last match of the series was rained out 30 overs in.
Last time they met: It seems so long ago since the Tri-Series in Zimbabwe, where the Proteas thumped the Aussies by six wickets. While on paper it looked like school mates Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers were the difference, the real damage was done by Dale Steyn up front, leading to a modest total from the Aussies.
Players to Watch
Australia: Finch went through a fairly solid form slump after the Aussie summer. While his T20 form has been good, with Cam White and Usman Khawaja (currently injured) roaring into form, he can’t afford setbacks.
South Africa: Hashim Amla is my pick as the best batsmen across both ODIs and Tests at present. He’s in form and was rested from the T20 squad to freshen up. There will be a lot of pressure on him to not only get South Africa off to a good start, but also help guide Quinton de Kock in the early overs.
Key match up
Quicks versus quicks: There are just so many delicious match ups in their series, but I’m really excited to see who takes the honours out of the pace men. Morne Morkel seems even more deadly with white ball in hand, and he’s backed up by the best quick of the modern generation in Dale Steyn.
On the other side of the fence, Mitch Johnson and co. will be sprinting in to knock the South Africans over. There will be some special interest in Josh Hazelwood, who gets a berth after tearing through sides in the Brisbane leg of the Matador Cup.
Australia may look to bring other pace men back in after the first two ODIs, with Pat Cummins Faulkner and Starc all missing out on selection for the games in Perth.
Squads
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Kyle Abbott, Quinton de Kock, Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, Imran Tahir, Ryan McLaren, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Vernon Philander, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn
Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), George Bailey, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Aaron Finch, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Kane Richardson, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Shane Watson
My XI
Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shane Watson, Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Kane Richardson, Josh Hazlewood
Despite his great ODI leg in Pakistan, I’d expect selectors to leave Steve Smith on the bench. Maxwell provides more powerful hitting and his offies will be favoured over the Leg Spin of Smith as a backup to the quicks. Nathan Coulter-Nile will most likely sit out to make way for Kane Richardson, despite his knowledge of the WACA.
Prediction: 3-2 South Africa
Every time I shook my Magic 8 Ball it told me ‘bugger off, I have no clue’. So I’ve picked 3-2 to South Africa as I believe it will be a tightly fought series, but Saffas will have a smallest of edges due to a more in-form middle order.
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