Australia's 2027 World Cup preparations move up another level this week when they face South Africa in a three-match ODI series beginning in Durban on Thursday.
After completing a 3-0 sweep of Zimbabwe, Australia now face a significantly tougher assignment against the Proteas, with matches in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom.
The series is particularly valuable preparation for both teams, with South Africa set to co-host the 2027 ODI World Cup alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia. Australia also welcome back two of their biggest names, with Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc joining the squad after sitting out the Zimbabwe series.
Check out our preview for the South Africa vs Australia ODI series below, and join a new sports betting site to help us keep our content free!
South Africa vs Australia ODI Series Schedule
| Match |
Date |
Venue |
Start Time (AEST) |
| 1st ODI |
Thursday, September 24 |
Kingsmead, Durban |
6:00pm |
| 2nd ODI |
Sunday, September 27 |
Wanderers, Johannesburg |
6:00pm |
| 3rd ODI |
Wednesday, September 30 |
Potchefstroom |
9:30pm |
The first two matches are early 10am local starts, while the final ODI is a day-night fixture beginning at 1:30pm local time.
Australia Squad
Australia have strengthened considerably for the South African leg of the tour.
Australia: 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.
Cummins and Starc return to give Australia the option of fielding something close to their first-choice pace attack alongside Josh Hazlewood. Nathan Ellis has also been in superb form with the ball, and he virtually carried the team home in the 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe with the bat, so he's hard to remove from this lineup.
Jack Edwards has also been added to the squad after Billy Stanlake suffered a side injury in Zimbabwe. Spencer Johnson has returned home, while Cameron Green missed the Zimbabwe series with a sore shoulder but could return in South Africa.
Australia's batting remains particularly interesting as selectors continue working towards their preferred combination for next year's World Cup.
Travis Head and Mitchell Marsh occupy the top-order roles, but Australia have several players competing for positions beneath them, including Green, Josh Inglis, Alex Carey, Matthew Renshaw, Cooper Connolly and Oliver Peake. There's no doubt that the young batting lineup put their hands up against Zimbabwe, but this will be a tougher test against the South Africans.
South Africa Squad
South Africa's batting group remains strong, but their bowling attack has been hit hard by injuries.
South Africa: 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.
The biggest story is who isn't there.
Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman have all been ruled out, while Nandre Burger is also unavailable with a back problem. Ngidi's hamstring injury was confirmed last week, adding him to an already substantial injury list.
That leaves Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch and youngsters Kwena Maphaka, Duan Jansen and Nqobani Mokoena among South Africa's pace options.
Aiden Markram will also miss the opening ODI for personal reasons before becoming available for games two and three.
South Africa vs Australia Series Preview
This should provide a much better indication of where Australia's ODI side currently sits than the preceding series against Zimbabwe.
Australia swept Zimbabwe 3-0 and arrive with four consecutive ODI victories, but their form before that had been inconsistent. They had lost four of their previous five ODI series, including 2-1 defeats against Pakistan, Bangladesh and South Africa.
South Africa have also had Australia's measure recently. They won last year's ODI series in Australia and produced a memorable comeback the last time Australia toured South Africa in 2023, recovering from 2-0 down to win the five-match series 3-2.
However, the injury situation makes this series particularly intriguing. South Africa without Rabada, Ngidi, Baartman and Burger is a considerably different proposition. Australia's likely top order of Head, Marsh and potentially Green suddenly looks well placed to attack a depleted pace attack.
The other side of the equation is Australia's bowling. Adding Cummins and Starc to Hazlewood, Ellis and Zampa gives Australia a high-quality attack to take on a South African batting order containing Bavuma, de Kock, Breetzke, Miller and Stubbs. The availability of Markram after the opening match should strengthen South Africa further.
South Africa vs Australia Betting Tips
Australia – 1st ODI
There was little reason to back Australia at around $1.10 against Zimbabwe, but this is a much more appealing price.
South Africa deserve considerable respect at home and have an excellent recent ODI record against Australia. However, losing Rabada, Ngidi and Baartman simultaneously leaves a significant hole in their attack. Australia, meanwhile, are moving in the opposite direction by adding Cummins and Starc.
Markram's absence from the first match is another small positive for Australia. At around $1.65, Australia are worth considering in Durban.
Australia to win 1st ODI
$1.65
Travis Head – Top Australia Run Scorer
Head remains one of the first players to consider when looking at Australia's leading scorer markets.
The South African attack is missing several of its most experienced fast bowlers, and Head's aggressive approach at the top gives him the opportunity to take advantage before Keshav Maharaj becomes a major factor through the middle overs.
The early starts in Durban and Johannesburg introduce some new-ball risk, but coming off a recent recent against Zimbabwe, he's in form and ready to fire again.
Travis Head leading AUS run scorer
$4.10
Mitchell Starc – Top Australia Wicket Taker
Starc is one of the most interesting additions to the series.
The left-armer should get opportunities with the new ball and at the death, and South Africa's aggressive batting approach could provide wicket-taking opportunities throughout the innings.
The obvious concern is workload. With a three-Test series beginning shortly afterwards, Australia may manage their frontline quicks rather than necessarily playing Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood in all three ODIs.
For individual matches, however, Starc's wicket markets will be worth watching whenever he is named.
Mitchell Starc Most AUS Wickets
$3.00
