Eyes on weather as Australia look to avoid clean sweep against South Africa

Australia have been troubled by left-arm spinn and this will be their last ODI in conditions they are likely to face in 2027 World Cup

Firdose Moonda

Published: Sep 29, 2026, 9:53 AM (1 hr ago)

Big picture: South Africa tick first box of home summer, Australia look for answers

South Africa have marked their first mission of a bumper home summer as successful after sealing the series against Australia with a game to spare which has given them the luxury of some experimentation in the final match in Potchefstroom. Only 20-year-old seamer Nqobani Mokoena hasn't got a game yet but with the Tests on the horizon, the expectation is that as many Test players as possible will get the day off to prepare for bigger contests to come.

While South Africa have half an eye already trained on the Tests, Australia will want to focus on a) not being white-washed for the second time in three series in South Africa and b) getting a win in their last ODI in next year's World Cup conditions. For that to happen, their issues against left-arm spin will need speedy addressing. There's not much Australia can do in personnel terms, especially after the injury to Josh Inglis has limited how many changes they can make but they will know who needs to improve.

Related

Australia could face a trial by spin

South Africa's answer to heavier cricket calendar

According to Cricinfo's data, since the end of 2023 World Cup, Cameron Green has faced the most balls by left-arm spin - 192 in 14 innings - and has a strike rate of 75 while Mitchell Marsh has faced 127 balls with a strike-rate of 74.8. Matt Renshaw and Cooper Connolly have fared better with strike rates of 91.86 and 93.97 and it will be up to them to keep Australia ticking over in the middle period. That task will not be easy, especially against Keshav Maharaj. Not only does he have the most wickets in the series so far, but an eye-wateringly good economy rate of 3.82. Maharaj has almost single-handedly ensured South Africa have not felt the absence of their frontline seamers, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, as much as they might have. For all the talk of South Africa-Australia clashes being battles of the seamers, it's turned (literally) into something a little different.

The mid-week fixture during school holidays will be the final palette cleanser before things get serious ahead of next month's Tests. Expect an engaged student crowd, and hope the weather holds.

Form guide:

South Africa: WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first)

Australia: LLWWW

In the spotlight: Quinton de Kock and Pat Cummins

While Matthew Breetzke, Temba Bavuma and David Miller have hit hundreds, Quinton de Kock has had a fairly quiet series with scores of 14 and 15 and was at his most animated when he had a squabble with Bavuma over a review in match two. Bavuma was heard on the stump mic telling de Kock to relax (in stronger terms) after he called for a review for an lbw off a Lizaad Williams yorker. The clip caught eyes on social media, which head coach Conrad said "means nothing to the change room" apart from the fact that it gave him "a good chuckle". Conrad encourages a bit of excitement because "we don't want boring guys to stand around and Quinny's always going to give his opinion" and there's no bad blood between de Kock and Bavuma. It may be just what's needed to get de Kock back among the big runs.

Pat Cummins could play his first ODI since November 2024 - and only his third since Australia won the 2023 World Cup - and he'll have a job on his hands. With Josh Hazlewood almost certain to be rested and Nathan Ellis out of the match, Australia will be without both experience and a level of excellence, as Ellis has been their best bowler on tour. So Cummins comes in with plenty of expectations. Apart from an interest in watching how he performs in the format after such a long absence, all eyes will be on whether he can improve Australia's wicket-taking through the middle phase. Though they managed to strike early in the first two matches, they have not bowled South Africa out in the series so far, and taking wickets in the middle period will be crucial to their chances of claiming a consolation win.

Team news

With the series won, Conrad urged fans to "fasten your seatbelt" ahead of his selection on Wednesday, which could only mean South Africa will empty the bench and test a few combiations.Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickleton missed the pink ODI and could be back, perhaps in slightly different batting positions. Marco Jansen and his twin Duan may not get the chance to play in front of what is essentially their home ground, with both left-arm spinners likely to keep their spots.

South Africa (probable XI): 1 Quinton de Kock (wk), 2 Tony de Zorzi, 3 Ryan Rickelton, 4 Matthew Breetzke, 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 David Miller, 7 Duan Jansen 8 Keshav Maharaj (capt), 9 Bjorn Fortuin, 10 Nqobani Mokeona 11 Lizaad Williams

With only four fit fast players to choose from after Nathan Ellis was ruled out with a side strain, Australia should have Cummins back in the XI. Josh Hazlewood is expected to be rested. The only decision will be whether Jack Edwards, who took his maiden five-for in the last match, will make way for Ollie Peake, who has yet to play a game in South Africa.

Australia (Probable XI): 1 Mitch Marsh (capt), 2 Travis Head, 3 Cooper Connolly, 4 Alex Carey (wk), 5 Matt Renshaw, 6 Cameron Green, 7 Jack Edwards, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Pat Cummins, 10 Mitchell Starc, 11 Adam Zampa

Pitch and Conditions: All eyes on the weather

A grim day is forecast for much of the Highveld with temperatures dipping as low as six degrees and heavy rain for much of the area. Most of it should fall on Tuesday but there remains the possibility of a delayed start and a reduced match. The last time Potchefstroom hosted an ODI, in September 2023, it was also against Australia and played as a day-night game. South Africa piled on 338 for 6 to win by 111 runs.

Stats and trivia

The last time Australia were blanked in an ODI series was a 2-0 loss to Sri Lanka in February 2025. They last lost 3-0 to South Africa in February 2020.

Since Shukri Conrad took over the South African ODI side permanently in April 2025, South Africa have won four out of six series, losing only to Pakistan and India in the subcontinent.

Firdose Moonda is Cricinfo's senior correspondent for Africa and women's cricket

Click here to read article