Sept. 29 (CRICKETNMORE) - The much awaited five-match One-Day International series between No.1 ODI side in ICC rankings Australia and host South Africa is starting in Centurion on Friday (September 30). South Africa have won five of its last six series at home and with several of Australia's quicks unavailable due to injury or rest, South Africa has the edge going into first ODI.
The touring squad includes three new fast bowlers in Daniel Worrall, who earned his first cap in Australia’s nine-wicket win against Ireland in Benoni on Tuesday, Chris Tremain and Joe Mennie. The only experienced seamers in the squad are John Hastings, Scott Boland and Mitchell Marsh, the allrounder, who between them have only 73 caps and 80 wickets in ODIs.
On the other hand, South Africa's AB de Villiers, the world’s No. 1 ranked ODI batsman in the ICC rankings, will be undergoing elbow surgery that will keep him out of action for both the ODI series and a three-Test series in Australia in November. South Africa still has a strong batting line-up, however, led by Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, the stand-in captain.
But it's the bowling that could give South Africa the edge in the series. Dale Steyn has returned to full fitness and is set to share the new ball with Kagiso Rabada. The two are joint-seventh in the ICC rankings for bowlers in ODIs and could prove to be quite the formidable pair.
Check Australia tour of South Africa ODI Series Schedule
Squads:
Australia: Steve Smith (capt), George Bailey, Scott Boland, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Joe Mennie, Chris Tremain, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner, Daniel Worrall, Adam Zampa.
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir.
Saurabh