South Africa and Australia lock horns in ODIs by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

South Africa in Australia 2008/09

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DateLine: 15th January 2009

 

The traditional tri-series has been swept aside in favour of separate five-match contests against South Africa and then New Zealand. After the success of the Twenty20 matches in Melbourne and Brisbane over the past week it will be fascinating to see what kind of support the 50-over format retains. Strong Australian performances will help and they go in as favourites against a developing South Africa that will rest key players throughout the series. The visitors know how important this weekend is, with Friday's Melbourne game followed by a match in Hobart on Sunday, as they aim to avoid a repeat of their one-day defeats in England last year after they had won the Test series there as well.

 

Ryan Harris is the only player in Australia's 13-man squad who will definitely miss out but they have not yet decided whether to include Nathan Hauritz. The call will come down ton the morning of the game, although it is more likely they will enter with a three-man fast-bowling unit. Brad Haddin returns to the side after being rested for the Twenty20s, as does Michael Clarke, who was declared fit despite battling a thumb injury. Australia's other main question is who should open with Shaun Marsh. Matthew Hayden has retired and Shane Watson is injured, so it will probably be either Clarke or James Hopes, both of whom have taken the role in the past.

 

Australia (probable) 1 Shaun Marsh, 2 Michael Clarke, 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Hussey, 5 David Hussey, 6 Cameron White, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 James Hopes, 9 Nathan Bracken, 10 Ben Hilfenhaus, 11 Shaun Tait

 

South Africa have given no indication as to the makeup of their starting line-up, although AB de Villiers and Jacques Kallis are both expected to be fit having missed the second Twenty20. They will be hoping for a strong effort from Herschelle Gibbs, who struggled in the shorter games having not played for the past month due to his alcohol rehabilitation programme. They have already signalled a rotation system for their fast men, particularly the Test bowlers, so it's unlikely that all of Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini and Morne Morkel will play.

 

JP Duminy was South Africa's best player in both the Twenty20 games, when he kept his head as those around him lost theirs. A pair of composed half-centuries indicated his outstanding form from the Test series would not be put away along with his white clothing. He could be South Africa's key batsmen in these five ODIs.

 

South Africa (probable) 1 Herschelle Gibbs, 2 Hashim Amla, 3 Jacques Kallis, 4 AB de Villiers, 5 JP Duminy, 6 Vaughn van Jaarsveld, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Albie Morkel, 9 Morne Morkel, 10 Johan Botha (capt), 11 Dale Steyn.