This may be a dead rubber for both teams but Australia and South Africa have long had a fierce rivalry.
The Proteas will be keen to salvage some pride from their final fixture while the Aussies will want to build further momentum heading into the semi-finals. Australia should also get motivation from their poor recent record against South Africa, who have beaten them in eight of their past 10 ODIs.
Key strategy: Will Australia experiment with tactics ahead of the semi-finals?
Australia’s top four is in great shape, its attack is dominating and wicketkeeper-batsman Alex Carey is having the breakout moment of his international career. The one glaring weakness in the side is the form of all-rounders Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell.
Stoinis has been in dire form with the bat for more than a year now, while Maxwell’s batting has tapered off in this tournament and he’s had a shocker with the ball, taking 0-238.
At the time of writing it’s not clear whether he will be fit to play given his mishap at training.
With Australia having qualified for the semi-finals it will be interesting to see if they offer greater responsibility to Maxwell and Stoinis in this match to try to get them into form.
It wouldn’t surprise me if they consider promoting Stoinis up the order to give him extra time in the middle, and if they also give both players plenty of overs.
South Africa: Faf du Plessis
With Quentin de Kock below his best in this tournament, Hashim Amla well past his peak, and Aiden Markram and JP Duminy struggling, du Plessis has had to step up for the Proteas.
He’s done that with aplomb, anchoring their batting line-up as he has done for years now.The South African captain is one of the world’s most underrated ODI cricketers.
While most cricketer observers would recognise him as a very good 50-over batsman, he is in fact elite and has been for years. Over the past five years du Plessis has piled up an incredible 4,305 runs at 57 in ODIs – only four batsmen have scored more runs in that time
He is rock solid against pace, assured against spin and has multiple gears to his batting, which helps him adapt to a variety of conditions and match situations.
The Proteas captain also loves playing against Australia. He has made 980 runs at 52 against the Aussies in ODIs, including four tons.
Key Australian: David Warner
The last time David Warner played the Proteas he had a prolonged meltdown that derailed his career. It began with him losing his cool badly on and off the field during Australia’s Test series in South Africa in March last year.
The culmination was Warner’s apparently central role in the ball tampering scandal that embarrassed Australian cricket. This match, then, will surely be a very significant moment for Warner, and for Steve Smith, who was also banned for a year over the scandal.
Warner has a turbulent history with the Proteas, having become embroiled in many slanging matches with them over the years. Now, however, he appears intent on improving his on-field behaviour and avoiding conflict.
Warner is channelling his energy into making runs. That has worked spectacularly well so far, with the left hander piling up 516 runs at 74 in this World Cup.
The Proteas will need to dislodge him early or he’ll guide the Aussie innings once more. Warner has had great success against South Africa in all formats so I think they will view him as the key wicket.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Wildcard players:
South Africa: Chris Morris
The tall bowling all-rounder wasn’t in the Proteas line-up at the start of the tournament but has since made a huge impact, taking 12 wickets at 23 to be their most impactful bowler.
In a World Cup where intimidating speed has been highly effective, Morris’ pace has been at the heart of his success.
Not only can he push the speed gun beyond 145kmh but, at 196cm tall, he also gets disconcerting bounce. Australia will be understandably wary of pace superstar Kagiso Rabada and spin wizard Imran Tahir. But Morris has caught many teams off guard in this tournament and could do so again today.
Australia: Nathan Lyon
South Africa are one of the weakest sides against spin in this World Cup. Whereas Australia, for example, have made a point of attacking opposition spinners in this tournament, the Proteas often have been too defensive against the slow bowlers.
Lyon has taken only one wicket from his two matches so far yet has still been of immense value.
The off spinner’s role in this Australian team is to keep things as tight as possible and build pressure upon which his bowling colleagues can capitalise.
He has done that brilliantly, conceding a miserly 4.15 runs per over. I think today will be a chance for him to boost his wicket tally.
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AREH
Roar Guru
This. Maxi has hardly had the chance to do ‘his thing’ yet ..although I still feel (and hope) he has a 70 off 35 type innings left yet in this tournament, to propel a score well over 300.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
Looking for my fair call emoji
Peter
Guest
So it is. Or it’s a symbol of adulation for a pair of spivs which I find offensive. To each his own.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I think you need to get a grip Peter. It’s just a picture
Peter
Guest
Brian, your ethical standards appear to stop at “But he’s scoring lots of runs!” Good on you. My issue is that the captain and vice-captain ordered the youngest, newest member of the team to actually commit the offence. Didn’t even have the balls(!) to do it themselves. What option did Bancroft have if he wanted to stay in the team? Have the sainted (because they score lots of runs) Smith and Warner actually done anything to indicate that they understand what they did? Do they have any ethical standards whatsoever? That is why to my mind they are and will remain a pair of gooses, just like Hookes and Warne. But, as far as you’re concerned, they score runs and that’s all that matters.
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
Exactly mate the funny thing is that incident happend between SA where as the Broad incident was in the ashes. Typical England lol always personally offended and will try to apply added pressure on AUS to achieve any advantage. AUS have handled it well and was bitter sweet to slap England at their treasured ground Lords.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Why is Warner referred to as "Superdad"? Does that make Candy "Supermum" & their tribe "Superchildren"?
KenoathCarnt
Roar Rookie
Its been quite some time since I have been this satisfied with the selection of recent teams. You have 2 new ball wicket takers with Cummins and Lyon to squeeze the batsmem in the middle with economic pressure and that alone will force wickets. I would only slightly tweek the lineup with Khawaja's position he should only be an oppening batsmen.
jameswm
Roar Guru
A lot better. Maxwell has done his job with the bat several times
jameswm
Roar Guru
Agree with Don on this
Dave SPG
Roar Rookie
What's the question?
Peter
Guest
But not the Second Coming.
Cadfael
Roar Guru
I'd play Hanscomb and Maxwell in at 6. His form is marginally better than Stoinis'.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
QUESTION: I keep hearing Warner referred to as "Superdad". I acknowledge I am an older citizen however in the 60's it was common to see families with 7, 8 or 9 children. Fathers then were not similarly described. Exaggeration seems to be a constant component of modern vocabulary.
Cantab
Roar Rookie
One team is peaking with a lot on the line, the other is at an all time low with nothing to play for other than pride. The body language and communication in the field from SA in their last couple of games points to them not even wanting to be there anymore. I see this as being an Australian walk over.
dungerBob
Roar Rookie
Australia has more than enough motivation to be switched on for this game. I can’t see us taking it lightly at any level. They’ll be super keen to force India & England to slug it out and eliminate one of them. I feel that alone should ensure their full attention because this is a World Cup and the opportunity is there to knock out England or India without even playing them dammit. .. I’m sure the Proteas will be up for it and they have some match winning players in that side. Anyone expecting an easy run will probably be disappointed. SA love beating us and they’ll be trying their hardest. I’m willing to bank on that. We’ll have to be on our game to beat this lot but we’ve got the players and the form to do just that. .. Another advantage we have is WC winning experience in our side. Smith, Warner, Maxwell and Starc to name a few. It’s very hard to quantify exactly how much experience affects a team but I’m sure it has some positive value. India has it as well but England, NZ and South Africa don’t. It might not make that much difference but every little bit helps at this stage of the tourney.
Brian
Guest
You do realise Warner is the top scorer for Australia and third overall in the tournament? Aside from that, there is very good reason to highlight both Smith and Warner in this game. I really don't understand the issue people still have with this whole thing. They were caught, they did their time and now they are back. Cricket history is littered with similar incidents that haven't had anywhere near the same outcry.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
And avoid playing England at Edgbaston which England has played recently on a wicket and small boundaries that suit their style, and Australia hasn’t played.
James
Guest
I admit i did chuckle a little at the equivocation about his role in the ball tampering. They literally had the cricket equivalent of a trial and he was found guilty.
AREH
Roar Guru
A win for Australia also means they needn't travel for a few days, remaining in Manchester to face NZ in a Semi on Tuesday.