Australia vs South Africa third ODI: Cummins returns as tourists chase a face-saver
Australia are trying to avoid a 3-0 series whitewash in Potchefstroom, with Pat Cummins back in the side and South Africa rotating five players.
Australia and South Africa are playing the third and final one-day international of their series in Potchefstroom, and that is why searches have jumped in Australia. The match is still in progress, so this piece covers the background and what is at stake rather than the scoreline.
South Africa have already won the series 2-0. Australia are playing to avoid a whitewash.
What is at stake
The Proteas won the first two games by 67 runs and 32 runs. According to Fox Sports, Australia twice wasted strong starts because their middle order misfired.
The series is also being read as a warning sign. Fox Sports notes that the next ODI World Cup, to be held in Africa, is about 12 months away.
Team news: Cummins back, Proteas rotate
Australia have made three changes. Pat Cummins returns for his first ODI since 2024, and Fox Sports says it is only his third since the 2023 World Cup win. Mitchell Starc is back after being rested for the second match. Young batter Ollie Peake also comes in after missing the first two games, despite strong form on the earlier tour of Zimbabwe.
Mitchell Marsh leads the side again. He is the official ODI captain, and Fox Sports says he was set to take charge for this game as well.
Australia are without several players:
- Josh Hazlewood has been rested ahead of the Tests.
- Nathan Ellis (side strain) and Jack Edwards (hamstring) are sidelined.
- Joel Davies (hamstring) was also ruled out of this game.
- Josh Inglis broke a finger in the first ODI and is in doubt for the Test series.
South Africa have made five changes. Captain Temba Bavuma is rested ahead of next week's first Test in Durban, and Aiden Markram leads the side. Marco Jansen and spinner Keshav Maharaj are also rested. David Miller and Duan Jansen are out, too.
Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee and Nqobani Mokoena come in.
Australia XI: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Peake, Alex Carey (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.
South Africa XI: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Gerald Coetzee, Lizaad Williams, Nqobani Mokoena.
Conditions
Fox Sports reports that the South African highveld was hit by rain in the lead-up. Temperatures were forecast to fall as low as six degrees Celsius, which is not ideal for the tourists.
How to follow
In Australia, Fox Cricket has exclusive live coverage of the tour, and it streams on Kayo Sports. The Guardian and Fox Sports are both running live blogs.
What happens next
The focus then turns to the Test series, which begins next week in Durban. Hazlewood and Bavuma have been rested from this game with that opener in mind. Inglis's finger injury remains a concern for Australia.
The result of this match had not been confirmed in the sources used for this article.
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