McDermott, a wicketkeeper-batsman from Brisbane, has played four Twenty20 Internationals for Australia after making his debut last month against the United Arab Emirates. In 14 List A games, the 23-year-old has 652 runs to his name at an fine average of 50.15. 

"The National Selection Panel has decided to add Ben McDermott to the ODI squad ahead of Friday’s match against South Africa at the Adelaide Oval," said Australia's chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns. 

"Part of the decision to include Ben is to ensure we have appropriate coverage should Shaun Marsh fail to recover in time for Friday’s second ODI.

"We will continue to monitor Shaun’s progress and give him every opportunity to prove his fitness ahead of the match."

Australia lost the first ODI of the series by five wickets in Perth, where they were bowled out for a paltry 152, and Marsh sat out of the game after reportedly suffering an "abscess in his buttock region" that will require a surgery. 

The second and third games will be played on 9 and 11 November in Adelaide and Hobart, and will be followed by a one-off T20I on 17 November.

Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Shaun Marsh, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Darcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (vc), Ben McDermott, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Pat Cummins, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Adam Zampa