He scored 65 runs in the ODI series opener.
After a thrilling T20I series, which the hosts, Australia, clinched with a score line of 2-1, these two sides are now clashing in an electrifying ODI series, which started on August 19. The visitors, South Africa, have taken the lead after thrashing the Aussies by a huge 98 runs in the series opener. However, the Proteas have not included captain Temba Bavuma in their playing XI for the second fixture of the series.
The news from the match centre is that South Africa have won the toss and elected to bat first.
Australia: Mitchell Marsh(C), Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis(WK), Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton(WK), Aiden Markram(C), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi.
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has been rested for the second ODI against Australia in Mackay. T20I skipper Aiden Markram will be leading the Proteas side in this fixture.
Notably, the 35-year-old made a comeback in this series after recovering from his hamstring injury that he suffered during the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 Final at Lord’s Stadium. However, he will be back in the team for the final match of the ODI series on August 24.
“This decision is part of his workload management. Although he experienced no discomfort during the first ODI on Tuesday, the Proteas medical team recommended he be rested for the second match. He will be available to lead the side in the third ODI on Sunday, with Aiden Markram standing in as captain today,” read a CSA statement.
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Moreover, Proteas spinner Prenelan Subrayen is also not featuring in the second match of this series. The bowler has been reported for a suspect bowling action after making his ODI debut in the series opener at Cairns. He had completed his quota of overs at an impressive economy of 4.60 and also scalped the wicket of Australian opener Travis Head in the previous fixture.
After starting the series on a high, the visitors would look to win this match to register an unassailable 0-2 lead over Australia. But the hosts have already struck two early blows in South Africa’s batting lineup.
Pacer Xavier Bartlett has dismissed the Proteas’ stand-in captain Markram and the wicketkeeper-batter Ryan Rickelton for a duck and eight runs, respectively. At the time of writing, South Africa are at 56/2 after 10 overs, with Tony de Zorzi (27) and Matthew Breetzke (21) at the crease.
