Champions Trophy 2024/25, AUS vs SA 7th Match, Group B Match Preview

Big picture: Expect a hard-fought contest

All that, combined with expectations of a batter-friendly pitch in Rawalpindi, means the bowling attacks can expect a tough day out after already being challenged by absences in personnel. Australia are missing more than South Africa with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc all out of the tournament; but with Anrich Nortje and Gerald Coetzee also ruled out, South Africa had to look elsewhere for express pace. Still, they’ve got five seamers and three spinners (if you include Aiden Markam) to choose from. Australia’s squad make-up is similar and with Marnus Labuschagne turning his arm over, they have additional options, so the real point of difference may lie in selection and how the captains allocate overs to exert pressure on each other.

Form guide

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

In the spotlight: Ellis and van der Dussen

In a match where 707 runs were scored in 97.3 overs, conceding less than six runs an over was simply outstanding. That’s what Nathan Ellis did for Australia against England, where his 10 overs cost just 51 runs in a display of immense control and maturity in just his tenth ODI. Ellis is unusual in that at 5 foot 9 he isn’t as tall as we’d expect a fast bowler to be and relies on consistency and variety rather than pace to make an impact. While he may not be an outright attacking bowler, in a tournament where restricting batting sides in the middle overs has already proven to be important, how he performs in that phase could be decisive in Australia’s campaign.

Team news: Klassen to have fitness test

Australia don’t have reason to change things and Alex Carey suggested the XI would remain as is. They may consider a switch in their attack, and swap out one of their two left-arm quicks, Spencer Johnson or Ben Dwarshuis, for Sean Abbott.

Australia: (possible) 1 Matthew Short, 2 Travis Head, 3 Steve Smith (capt), 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Alex Carey, 7 Glenn Maxwell, 8 Ben Dwarshuis, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Spencer Johnson

South Africa (possible): 1 Temba Bavuma (Capt), 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Rassie Van Der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (WK), 6 David Miller, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 9 Keshav Maharaj, 10 Kahav Maharaj, 10 Kagiso Rabada, 11 Morning Ngidi

Pitch and conditions

Before the start of this tournament, Rawalpindi had not hosted ODIs since April 2023, when Pakistan and New Zealand made scores of 288, 291, 336 and 337 in two matches. South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma and Carey said they expect another high-scoring encounter on what looks like a flat surface. Bavuma also revealed that South Africa noted significant dew during a training session at the venue over the weekend and both he and Carey expected chasing to be easier than defending a target. The weather will be cooler than in Karachi or Lahore with a high of just 17 degrees, and there is some drizzle forecast in the afternoon which could impact the match.

Stats and trivia

Quotes

“We probably don’t want to chase 350 too many more times but our bowlers will learn a lot from that hit out.”
Australia batter Alex Carey reflects on the game against England

“We’re quite bullish about our chances. Even though in the (preceding) tri-series, we didn’t have all our guys, it still was an opportunity for us to get whatever intel that we can on the conditions and share that information with all the other guys who came in. Confidence is good. We’re quite optimistic about our chances and how far we can go in this competition.”
South Africa captain Temba Bavuma