Australia have made several changes for the first ODI against South Africa in Durban, with Jack Edwards set to make his ODI debut and Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green returning to the playing XI.
Mitch Marsh won the toss and elected to bowl first on an overcast morning at Kingsmead. Before the start of play, Edwards was presented with Australia men’s ODI cap No. 254 by rested captain Pat Cummins.
Alex Carey has been left out, while Starc and Green will feature in Australia’s first match of the Africa tour. Josh Hazlewood also returns to the XI after playing only one of Australia’s three ODIs against Zimbabwe last week.
Australia make room for Edwards
Edwards has been brought into the XI after travelling to South Africa at short notice from Australia’s A tour of India. The 26-year-old previously made his T20I debut against Pakistan in January and will now earn his first ODI cap.
His inclusion comes with Green’s shoulder issue limiting his bowling involvement. Ollie Peake, who impressed as a finisher during Australia’s 3-0 ODI series win over Zimbabwe, misses out.
Edwards had limited returns in last season’s domestic One-Day Cup, scoring one run across three innings and taking three wickets from 21 overs. However, he made an impact against India A in Kanpur last October, scoring 89 off 75 balls from No. 8 and taking four wickets across two 50-over matches.
Carey dropped after lean run
Carey’s omission comes after a difficult run with the bat. The wicketkeeper-batter has averaged 19.80 across his last 16 international innings since his impressive Adelaide Test against England in December, when he scored 106 and 72.
He has crossed the 50-run mark only once in his last 11 ODI innings.
Josh Inglis will keep wickets for Australia, with Carey left out of the XI despite being a regular member of the ODI side over the past two years.
South Africa bring back Coetzee
South Africa have also made notable selections, with Gerald Coetzee returning to the ODI side for the first time since the 2023 World Cup semi-final against Australia in Kolkata.
Coetzee famously broke Travis Head’s hand during the 2023 World Cup, while Australia went on to beat South Africa in a closely fought semi-final.
South Africa have selected two left-arm spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin, despite the expectation of a seam-friendly surface. The Proteas have been hit by a series of pace-bowling injuries, including those to Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.
Aiden Markram is unavailable for the opening ODI due to personal reasons, with captain Temba Bavuma listed at No. 3.
South Africa Playing XI
Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj.
Australia Playing XI
Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (c), Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa ODI Squad
Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs.
Australia ODI Squad
Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
