South Africa v/s Australia 1st ODI Preview
Good Evening to all, its a one more interesting series will start from tomorrow morning as South Africa v/s Australia ODI series. South Africa is on the short tour of Australia but I said interesting because its a first time will both will play against each other in Australia after that Newlands ball tampering issue so it's interesting to see that how Australian crowd will behave while South Africa there. we all know since a long time that Australian crowd always torchering players who field near the boundary line so it also needs to see how new players of the South African team will face it. both teams are struggling for their form and both teams have not many match impact players so let discuss about their players.
South Africa
South Africa recently played against Zimbabwe at home where they won 3 ODI but not with that impact but by struggling. most of the players failed to show a good performance and they won series with help of bowlers. there is not get any good starts that top order was struggling to score runs. Aiden Markram did good but not able to convert his inning in a big score as he always out after got a good start. here in Australia, he gets another chance because absent of Hashim Amla so let see how he perform against good bowlers of Australia. one good thing with South Africa that their two big players back in the team who were not in the last series and they are Quntion De Kock & Faf Du Plessis. South Africa much need of this both players because they are too much dependent on them.
South Africa just lost their practice match against Prime Minister's 11 where again most of the player did not do perform and in this case, it's hard to play against such quality bowler of Australia. Reza Hendricks is also struggling after hundred on debut, Markram not able to score big and Miller also not able to a role of finisher so its a big challenge for them to perform in a crucial stage. Chris Morris also back in the team so it's now more all-rounders so it also needs to see who will get a place because Dwaine Pretorius also in the squad who is also very will perform in Domestic cricket. Heinrich Klassen did well in middle order in last few series so according to me, he has to play. South Africa will give more chances to Berhardien because he can bowl but his batting is not that kind of deep that he take place of one good batsman so it also needs to see.
If batting is South Africa's weak side with this team then Bowling is the strongest side because, in this squad, all are good bowlers. it will be a race between bowlers that which good bowler will get chance to play in first ODI. Rabada is a key bowler and he has also experienced to playing in Australia so he will lead fast bowling with Steyn and Ngidi. if Morris plays then he also do a fast bowling and for a spinner, there is Imran Tahir who has a lot of experience so its big bowling unit which is good for the team. the first match will be played on Perth which is known for pace and bounce which will helpful for fast bowling and I think Rabada and Ngidi will take advantage of it.
Australia
Australia is also struggling in International cricket since their main player David Warner and Steven Smith is banned after that Newlands test match. they can't able to win matches as they mostly played outside Australia. their top order much more depends on Aeron Finch as other are not able to show their talent. recently they played T20 against Pakistan where their performance was ordinary. they last played ODI in June against England in England where they also whitewashed by England so its a big challenge for them too in ODI which they are playing in the home condition which the only advantage in their favor. they are giving to many chances to D'arcy Short but his performance is not good and he get chance again but this time he will play in the home ground so maybe his form back. after Aeron Fince someone who will play good and sensible in the team is Travis Head. he mostly performs in middle over as he is a good batsman who will play spin and seam both well so he is a crucial player for Australia.
Chris Lynn is good for T20 but not for ODI as he is attacking batsman so it also needs to look at how he plays if he gets chance. Glenn Maxwell is out of form from a long time but getting continuous chances because of not other good players in the team so it also needs to see that he will get chances or not. Alex Carey is definitely playing as wicketkeeper and let hope he opens because he played well while opening the innings. Australia has only one genuine All-rounder and he is Marcus Stoinis who look surely get chance to play for first ODI. Shaun Marsh also looks for either open the inning or at no. 3.
in the bowling department, its look also equals side with South Africa because of add Mitchell Strac and Josh Hazelwood. both are tremendous and wicket taking bowler especially in Perth which will helpful for pace and bounce. they have also Nathan Coulter-Nile and Andrew Tye who are specialist of death overs. in the spin department they have Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa but as Perth pitch is more helpful for seamers, they will play with one spinner it may be Zampa. Pat Cummins also one good bowler so it also a battle between their fast bowlers that who will get chance to play first ODI.
Prediction
both teams are in same situations as they are finding their batting combinations while in bowling they have so many good bowlers that they can't decide who to give chance in final playing eleven. what I think is slightly advantage to Australia because they playing under home condition but South Africa also has chances to win the match. South Africa previous record in Australia is so good so I will go with South Africa and according to me Rabada, Du Plessis, De Kock, Starc, Finch are players to watch out for the first game. Match will start at 8:50 AM IST.
I have also posted this blog in scorum and here is its link :- South Africa v/s Australia 1st ODI Preview
