South Africa v Australia, 1st ODI, Centurion - Preview

Australia’s fast bowling reserves will be put to the test during its five-match One-Day International series against South Africa starting in Centurion on Friday (September 30).

Australia, currently ranked the No. 1 ODI side in the ICC rankings, will be without an entire battery of top-class pace bowlers when it takes on fourth-ranked South Africa. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have been rested, while Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner and Peter Siddle were ruled out due to injury.

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.

A key bowler for Australia could be Adam Zampa, the 24-year old legspinner, who made his debut in February and has taken 25 wickets in 13 matches, although South Africa’s relatively small grounds and the thin air in Centurion and Johannesburg could challenge his skills.

Darren Lehmann, the Australia coach, said on arrival in Johannesburg last week that it was necessary to rotate the team’s bowling resources with a view to building depth ahead of major Test series and ODIs. He said all 14 members of the squad would get game time during the tour.

Given their lack of experience, the Australian bowlers have reason to be grateful that 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.

Additionally, JP Duminy has expressed his interest in bowling more overs in hope of becoming a genuine allrounder. In the 11 ODIs he has played this year, he has only bowled in six games for a combined tally of 23 overs. But with Chris Morris ruled out of the series with injury, Duminy's all-round utility could prove all the more crucial.

South Africa has won five of its last six series at home and as it seeks a sixth victory, it will be aware that relaxing isn't an option, even against a depleted Australia side.

Squads: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.

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.