Australia VS South Africa 1st ODI Venue: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns
Australia VS South Africa 1st ODI Date: Tuesday, August 18
BetXchange Australia VS South Africa 1st ODI Odds:
History
South Africa’s latest cricket tour of Australia continues tomorrow. The Proteas and the Aussies will clash in the first of three ODIs at Cazalys Stadium in Cairns. This is the site of the first 50-over match, with the final two games of the tour to be played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Friday, August 22, and Sunday, August 24.
This same ground was the site of the third and deciding T20 match last week. After Australia had won the first T20 in Darwin by 17 runs, the Proteas replied with a comfortable 53-run victory at the Marrara Oval to tie the series.
The final T20 was a gripping, low-scoring contest. South Africa were put into bat and managed a methodical 172/7 from their 20 overs. Dewald Brevis, who is bang in form after posting an unbeaten 125 from just 56 balls in the second T20, was again the star with a quickfire 56 from 23 deliveries.
Australia left it until their overs were almost up to squeak out the series win. Mutchell Marsh opened with 54, but it was a commanding 62 not out from Glenn Maxwell, as wickets tumbled around him that pushed Australia to a two-wicket win. They finished on 173/8, with the final runs coming on the penultimate ball of the match.
This ODI series is all about long-term planning. South Africa will host the next edition of the format World Cup in 2027, alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Australia
Maxwell will not be a factor in this series. The veteran retired from the format after the Champions Trophy this year, eager to pursue his career in other areas. He was joined in retirement by Steven Smith. This gives the Aussies a couple of mega holes to fill moving forward.
Australia also has had to make three changes from its initial squad because of injury. Matt Short, Mitchell Owen, and Lance Morris have all been ruled out. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins are still on mandated rest, but Marnus Labuschagne is back in the squad and looking to prove a point after losing his Test spot.
South Africa
Australia wasn’t the only team to lose star power following the Champions Trophy. South African batting pillar Heinrich Klaasen retired from all international cricket at 33. With a combined 118 ODIs and T20Is under his belt, his experience is a big miss.
All-rounder Corbin Bosch came up huge for the Proteas as they almost stole the series in the third T20. In the penultimate over, he took the wickets of Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis in consecutive deliveries, giving Lunga Ngidi the chance to close out victory. It was not to be, but at 10/1, maybe he is worth a longshot punt if you think his form will carry into the 50-over format.
Best Bets
Brevis is on fire. He will be making his ODI debut here and is 15/1 to be the overall top batsman and 23/5 to lead the Proteas. This shouldn’t be a wicket that sees heavy scoring, though conditions were solid for batting in the final T20. Given some of the issues in the Aussie bowling attack, I like South Africa as the play here.
