Bavuma ruled out of first Australia T20I with hamstring strain

Bavuma sustained the injury while fielding during the final T20I against England on Sunday. He has been advised up to 10 days rest, but will continue to travel with the team under the medical staff's supervision. If he recovers in time, he'll be available for the second game of the series in Port Elizabeth.

Bavuma scored 123 runs from three innings against England, and forged opening stands of 48, 92 and 84 with skipper Quinton de Kock in a high-scoring series. No replacement has been named for Bavuma in South Africa's 16-member squad for the series.

Faf du Plessis, who alongside fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje has come back into the side after missing the limited-overs leg of the England series, might be considered to open the batting with de Kock in Bavuma's absence. He recently stepped down as South Africa's captain in Tests and T20Is, to leave the way open for de Kock to take up the reins.

Other potential candidates to partner de Kock could be Jon-Jon Smuts, Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klaasen, with Smuts being the front-runner of the three, having the experience of opening the batting in eight T20Is for South Africa as well as in T20 leagues.

The three-match T20I series will be followed by as many ODIs, the first of which will be played on 29 February in Paarl.