Australia has been set a 297-run target for victory in the ODI series opener against South Africa in Cairns.

The Proteas posted 8-296, the highest ODI total at Cazalys Stadium, courtesy of fifties from opener Aiden Markram, captain Temba Bavuma and rising star Matthew Breetzke. Travis Head was the pick of the Australian bowlers with 4-57 from nine overs, his second-best bowling figures in ODIs, with seamer Ben Dwarshuis taking two crucial wickets.

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Markram and opening partner Ryan Rickleton combined for a 92-run partnership after Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and chose to bowl first, with the latter living a charmed life in the middle. Having survived a run-out chance during the Powerplay, Rickleton benefitted from two LBW reviews before wicketkeeper Josh Inglis put down a thick outside edge.

Part-time spinner Head unearthed Australia’s first scalp in the 17th over when Rickleton picked out mid-off for 33 before Markram gloved a slower ball from Dwarshuis through to the wicketkeeper for 82.

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Bavuma and Breetzke rebuilt the innings with a rapid 92-run partnership for the third wicket, feasting on Australia’s bowlers.

The South Africans were on track for mammoth total before Breetzke top-edged a slog sweep into the outfield, with Adam Zampa’s breakthrough prompting a brief collapse of 3-7 from six balls. Tristan Stubbs holed out to long-off for a second-ball duck before debutant Dewald Brevis went six and out, both falling to Head.

Bavuma was bowled by Dwarshuis for 65 after miscuing a slog at the death, with Head snaring a fourth wicket and a fortuitous run out at the non-striker’s during the penultimate over. Wiaan Mulder smacked the final delivery of the innings over the fence, finishing unbeaten on 31.

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PREVIEW

Australia’s new ODI chapter begins when they face South Africa in the first match of a three-game series at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns, starting at 2:30pm AEST on Tuesday.

The series opener is Australia’s first ODI since the Champions Trophy semi-final loss to India in March, and the first since two-time World Cup winners Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell announced their retirement from the format.

Mitchell Marsh will lead a revamped side buoyed by a thrilling two-wicket victory in the T20 series finale at the same venue on Saturday night.

“Getting ready to spend three-and-a-half hours in the field will be a little bit different for a few of the boys,” Marsh said.

“But as a group and as a whole, nothing really changes. [There’s a] bit of a mindset change, it’s obviously different format. But the same stuff rolls on.”

Marnus Labuschagne is set to step out in national colours for the first time since his axing for the Test side after the World Test Championship final, and will be eager to put his best foot forward as he chases a recall for the upcoming Ashes series.

He is likely to be joined in Australia’s top six by Marsh, Travis Head, Cameron Green, who has not featured in ODI cricket in almost 12 months, as well as wicketkeepers Josh Inglis and Alex Carey.

The two glovemen played alongside one another in the Champions Trophy with Inglis taking duties behind the stumps, in a reversal of their appearances together in the Test side.

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Aaron Hardie and Cooper Connolly are in the frame for a berth at number seven following the withdrawals of Mitchell Owen (concussion) and Matt Short (side strain).

As they did in the T20 series, experienced pair Josh Hazlewood and Adam Zampa are set to lead the attack in the absence of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc with Nathan Ellis, Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett and Matt Kuhnemann vying for the other bowling spots.

Australia last played an ODI in Cairns three years ago when they clean swept a three-match series against New Zealand in former skipper Aaron Finch farewell series.

The conditions were tough for batters last time out with a low-scoring series playing out, including Zampa snaring a five-wicket haul and Maxwell grabbing four of his own in a different game.

Spin may be a key factor again, but despite the pitch at times showing inconsistent pace, it produced a stellar match in the T20 decider with Australia running down the target of 173 with two balls to spare.

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Dewald Brevis, who lit up the T20 series with a century in game two and fifty in game three, is tipped to make his ODI debut for South Africa off the back of his incredible form in the shorter format.

He hit six sixes on Saturday night, four of which were bigger than 100 metres, and South African captain Temba Bavuma is hoping to Brevis can recreate those fireworks in the 50-over aside game.

“It’s always exciting when you see the young faces. Obviously the big talk has been on Brevis, excited to see what he can also bring within the one-day stuff,” Bavuma said.

The visitors also have the wood on Australia in the ODI format in recent times, winning nine of their last 12 encounters dating back to 2018.