The second ODI of the three-match series between Australia and South Africa will take place at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Friday, August 22. South Africa currently leads the series 1-0, following a commanding 98-run victory in the first ODI, highlighted by a spectacular five-wicket haul from Keshav Maharaj. While the Proteas aim to seal the series, Australia will look to bounce back and level the contest.
Temba Bavuma Rested Ahead of 2nd ODI
South African captain Temba Bavuma, who scored an impressive half-century in the opening match, will sit out the second ODI. The decision comes as part of a workload management plan, following his hamstring strain during the World Test Championship Final in June. Although Bavuma appeared fully fit in the first ODI, the medical team advised precautionary rest to prevent any recurrence.
In his absence, Aiden Markram will lead the South African side against Australia.
𝑨𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒌𝒓𝒂𝒎, 𝑺𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒉 𝑨𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒂 𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒕𝒂𝒊𝒏, 𝒔𝒂𝒊𝒅: “𝑻𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒂 𝒊𝒔 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅, 𝒉𝒆’𝒔 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕 𝒅𝒂𝒚. 𝒅𝒆 𝒁𝒐𝒓𝒛𝒊 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒉𝒊𝒎 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑴𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒖𝒔𝒂𝒎𝒚 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝑺𝒖𝒃𝒓𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒏. 𝑾𝒊𝒏𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒎𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒖𝒑 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒂𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒒𝒖𝒂𝒅 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒐𝒄𝒖𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚.”
Captains’ Preview the Match
Australia captain Mitchell Marsh spoke ahead of the match, highlighting the team’s approach:
“𝑰𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌𝒔 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒐𝒏𝒆-𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒘𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒆𝒕. 𝑾𝒆’𝒓𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒐𝒘𝒍 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒐𝒑𝒆𝒇𝒖𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒊𝒄𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎 𝒕𝒐 𝒂 𝒄𝒉𝒂𝒔𝒆𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒕𝒐𝒕𝒂𝒍. 𝑾𝒆 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒚𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒈𝒂𝒎𝒆, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒐𝒅𝒂𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒖𝒏𝒊𝒕𝒚 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 — 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒖𝒑 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒊𝒕.”
Playing XIs
Australia:
Mitchell Marsh(c), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis(w), Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood
South Africa:
Ryan Rickelton(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
Also Read: Did You Know? Asia Cup Finals Have Never Featured Two Former Champions