South Africa v Australia ODIs: Ultimate series guide

These three matches serve as the perfect entrée for the highly-anticipated Test series that will immediately follow.

Series facts

Who: South Africa v Australia

What: Qantas Tour of South Africa, three-match ODI series

When: September 24, 27, 30. First ball 10am local time (6pm AEST) for first two matches, 1:30pm for the third match (9:30pm AEST)

Where: Kingsmead Durban; The Wanderers, Johannesburg; NWC Oval, Potchefstroom

How to watch: All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

News and reactions post-play: cricket.com.au and the CA Live app. The Unplayable Podcast will also be releasing regular episodes throughout Australia’s tour of southern Africa. Josh Hazlewood and Beau Webster have already been special guests this summer and Joel Davies is the latest to chat to the pod.

You can listen to the back catalogue of episodes below.

Listen on Spotify Listen on Apple Podcasts Listen on iHeart Radio

Full series schedule

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

The squads

South Africa ODI squad: 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

It’s a far from full-strength South African squad with several quicks struck down by injury and unavailable. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman will all be sidelined with hamstring injuries, while Nandré Burger is dealing with a back complaint. These injuries offer opportunities international rookies Duan Jansen and Nqobani Mokoena however – Jansen is the twin brother of Proteas regular Marco while Mokoena is a 20-year-old quick who made his ODI debut against Namibia less than a fortnight ago. Right-arm quick Gerald Coetzee hasn’t played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup but has been included for his return to the format.

There’s still lots of power in the South African batting however despite leaving out young guns Dewald Brevis and Lhuan-dre Pretorius, who both impressed in Australia last year. David Miller and Quinton de Kock have been selected despite neither holding a central contract while Aiden Markram will miss the first ODI due to personal reasons.

Jansen decimates Aussies as five-for capped by flying De Kock

Australia squad: 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

Australia welcome back captain Pat Cummins and spearhead Mitch Starc after both fast bowlers sat out the preceding series in Zimbabwe. The Aussies rotated their fast bowlers through the 3-0 series sweep but it wasn’t enough to prevent Billy Stanlake being struck down with a side injury in the second ODI. Both he and Spencer Johnson (managed) have returned to Australia.

The exit of the two quicks sees NSW allrounder Jack Edwards come into the squad to offer another pace-bowling option. Edwards made his T20I debut in Pakistan earlier this year and would make his ODI debut if selected.

Cooper Connolly is firming as the side’s long-term No.3 after back-to-back half-centuries at first drop. Australia will be delighted at the positive signs they saw from their middle order, with Josh Inglis, Matthew Renshaw and Ollie Peake, all enjoying productive series against the Chevrons.

Ellis saves the day in Harare with tense final-over win

Local knowledge

Australia have plenty of history at all of the venues on their ODI tour, most famously the Wanderers in Johannesburg, which will host the second ODI. Australia have won six times from 11 matches at ‘Joburg’ but lost one of the most celebrated ODIs of all-time when South Africa chased down their 434 in the fifth and deciding match of the 2006 series. Read more on that remarkable game in the oral history below.

The Aussies have strong records at Durban (nine matches, six wins) and Potchefstroom (five matches, two wins, one tie) as well.

This contest will be South Africa’s first home ODI series since December 2024 when they were swept 0-3 by Pakistan. Pace is generally the way to go at all the venues with a much lower average (runs conceded per wicket), however spin isn’t any less economical, suggesting there’s still a role for the slower bowlers to play.

Players to watch

Matthew Breetzke (South Africa): It’s been a stunning start to Breetzke’s ODI career which began with 150 against New Zealand and was followed up with 83, 57, 88 and 85 in his first five innings. As it stands, he averages 59.16 from 13 knocks in the format with a strike rate of close to 100. Capable of hitting some outrageous shots you’re not likely to find in the textbook, the 27-year-old also averages better than a six per innings, so don’t be surprised to see South Africa’s No.4 clear the rope.

Breetzke sets new mark with breezy 88

Pat Cummins (Australia): After masterminding Australia’s sensational 2023 World Cup victory, Cummins has played only two of the Aussies’ 31 ODIs since. This has been largely due to prioritising Test matches but Cummins remains the ODI skipper and the national selectors are keen to get him “online” in the format before next year’s World Cup, to be held in Southern Africa. While his game time in the ODI series will be managed with a focus to the Test series soon after, it will be fascinating to see how he is used given the rise of Nathan Ellis and the return of Mitch Starc.

Relentless Cummins ends Kohli’s record-breaking tournament

Form guide

Past 10 matches, most recent first. W: win, L: loss, N: no result

South Africa: WWWLWLLWLL

The Proteas made their first appearance in 50-over cricket in 2026 just last week, defeating neighbours Namibia 3-0 with essentially a second-string side. However, the end of 2025 was busy for South Africa with two separate 2-1 victories against Australia and England (both away from home) before rounding out the year with 1-2 losses to Pakistan and India (also both away). This series ends a run of 20 away ODIs dating back to February 2025.

Australia: WWWWLLLWLL

Australia’s 3-0 victory over Zimbabwe marked a welcome return to winning ways for the Aussies, who had lost four of their past five ODI series. That included 1-2 losses to Pakistan (home & away), Bangladesh (away) and South Africa (home) but included a 2-1 win over India at home last summer.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

Australia ODI squad: 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

Tags: