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

Cricknation Update: 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 The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins The three who matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah all smiles after dismissing Pat Cummins, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 The smile of a champion – Mohammed Siraj picked up five wickets in a ten-ball period, India vs Sri Lanka, Asia Cup final, Colombo, September 17, 2023 Alyssa Healy poses with the trophy after Australia retained the Ashes, England vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Women’s Ashes, Taunton, July 18, 2023 Punjab Cricket Association Stadium, Chandigarh, Chandigarh hpens to be India’s first planned city and it does show, Uploaded on 27 November 2001.

Keshav Maharaj tripped up Australia’s chase, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Johannesburg, September 27, 2026 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 fast bowler Nqobani Mokoena has yet to get a game, but with the Tests proaching, the hope is that as many Test players as possible will get time off to prepare for the bigger fixtures 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.

To do this, their issues against left-arm spin will need to be addressed quickly. 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. According to the statistics, since the end of the 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 he also has a fantastic 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. Despite talk of a South Africa-Australia fast bowler battle, it has (literally) turned out to be something completely different. The midweek event during the school holidays will be the final palette cleanser before things get serious ahead of next month’s Tests.

Expect a busy student crowd, and hope the weather is fine. South Africa: WWWWW (last five completed matches, most recent first) Australia: LLWWW Quinton de Kock hits half-century off 42 balls, India vs South Africa, 3rd ODI, Visakhatnam, Dec 6, 2025 While Matthew Britzke, Temba Bavuma and David Miller have scored centuries, Quinton de Kock has had a fairly quiet series with scores of 14 and 15 and while he has had the most Was animated. Argument with Bavuma regarding review in the second match. 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 the attention of people on social media, with head coach Conrad saying it “doesn’t mean anything to the changing room” despite the fact that it gave him “a good laugh”. 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. Perhs this is what is needed to get De Kock back among the big runs.

Pat Cummins could be playing his first ODI since November 2024 – and only his third ODI since Australia won the 2023 World Cup – and he will have a job in hand. With Josh Hazlewood almost certain to be rested and Nathan Ellis out of the match, Australia will be without both the experience and level of excellence, as Ellis has been their best bowler on the tour. So Cummins comes in with plenty of expectations.

With interest to see how he performs in the format after such a long absence, all eyes will be on whether he can improve Australia’s wicket-taking ability during the middle stages. Although they were successful in attacking early in the first two matches, they have yet to bowl out South Africa in the series, and taking wickets in the middle period will be crucial to their chances of claiming a consolation win. With the series clinching, Conrad urged fans to “fasten their seat belts” ahead of his selection on Wednesday, which can only mean that South Africa will empty the bench and test some combinations. Tony De Zorzi and Ryan Rickleton missed the pink ODI and could be back, albeit 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 (ct), 9 Bjorn Fortuin, 10 Nqobani Mokoena 11 Lizaad Williams Pat Cummins celebrates after trping Bas de Leede lbw, Australia vs Netherlands, Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, Delhi, October 25, 2023 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 (ct), 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 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 lost an ODI series was 2-0 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 ril 2025, South Africa have won four out of six series, losing only to Pakistan and India in the subcontinent. Australia are troubled by left-arm spin and this will be their last ODI in the conditions they are likely to face in the 2027 World Cup, Keshav Maharaj chases down Australia, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Johannesburg, Sep 27, 2026 Fortuin swings for an LBW and fingers go up!

Fills in and slides around with the left arm, as opposed to turning away. Probably too full for the sweep. Marsh still goes for the shot and is hit on the front pad down the middle line.

Or he managed to slip out of the line. Marsh has reviewed this. Flat line on UltraEdge as ball passes bat.

No bat involved for sure. Impact in the line and it would have hit the leg stump. Fortuin stops Marsh on 56 Bjorn Fortuin is mobbed by his team-mates, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Head drags on and throws his head back in utter dispointment!

Just short of a good length and away, but close to off. Head does not have enough space to pull it away over the leg side. He ends up sending a thick inside edge back onto his stumps.

SA got some relief with a corker of yorkers after a tight opening and Coetzee dismissed Connolly. Angling around the wicket, right into the blockhole. Connolly failed to put his bat on it and the ball hit the off stump Cooper Connolly was bowled by a brilliant yorker from Gerald Coetzee, South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, Sep 30, 2026 Caught brilliantly at point!

Peake will have to wait for his maiden fifty! Quick catch from Fortuin, diving to his left and taking it with both hands. Fractionally short and angling across off from over the stumps, Peake slashes in the air and falls first ball after drinks.

Was there to be cut, but Peake couldn’t lift it over the infielder short of length at the batter. Carey moves back but fails to create enough space and ends up cutting it straight to short third full. Renshaw looks to slog it towards wide long-on but gets a leading edge that skies towards mid-off.

Was a slower ball too and I think that resulted in the miscue. Markram settles under it a short ball. Green goes for the pull but is late on the shot.

The ball hit the gloves and went behind the stumps for De Kock to take a sitter. Meanwhile, Green has lost his balance and falls to the ground around a length ball. Bartlett swings across but misses and the ball nips back in to hit the outer part of off stump another slower one.

Cummins is early into the shot and ends up hitting it towards deep midwicket. Breetzke makes no mistake Cooper Connolly was bowled by a terrific yorker from Gerald Coetzee, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 a corker of a yorker, and Coetzee has Connolly castled. Angling in from around the wicket, right in the blockhole.

Connolly failed to place his bat on it and the ball hit the off stump completely. Renshaw looks to slog it towards wide long-on but gets a leading edge that skies towards mid-off. Was a slower ball too and I think that resulted in the miscue.

Markram settles under it a length ball around off. Bartlett swings across but misses and the ball nips back in to hit the outer part of off stump another slower one. Cummins played the shot early and eventually hit it towards deep midwicket.

Breetzke makes no mistake Head drags on and throws his head back in utter dispointment! Just short of a good length and away, but close to off. Head does not have enough space to pull it away over the leg side.

He ends up sending a thick inside edge back onto his stumps. Some relief for South Africa after getting rid of the opening stand, great catch at point! Peake will have to wait for his maiden fifty!

Sharp grab from Fortuin, diving across to his left and taking it with both hands. Fractionally short and angling across off from over the stumps, Peake slashes in the air and falls first ball after drinks. There was a cut to be made, but Peake could not lift it over the infielder short of the batsman’s length.

Carey backs away but fails to create enough room and ends up cutting it straight to short third a short ball. Green goes for the pull but is late on the shot. The ball hit the gloves and went behind the stumps for De Kock to take a sitter.

Green, meanwhile, has lost his balance and is down on the ground Bjorn Fortuin is mobbed by his team-mates, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Fortuin spins around for an lbw peal and the finger goes up! Fills in and slides around with the left arm, as opposed to turning away. Probably too full for the sweep.

Marsh still goes for the shot and is struck on the front pad in line with middle. Or did he manage to get outside the line by shuffling across. Marsh has reviewed this.

Flat line on UltraEdge as ball passes bat. No bat involved for sure. Impact in line and it would have crashed into leg stump.

Fortuin stops Marsh on 56 Head drags on and throws his head back in utter dispointment! Just short of a good length and away, but close to off. There is not enough room to stretch the head towards the foot.

Finally he sends a thick inside edge back onto his stumps. Some respite for SA after a rid opening stand Fortuin spins around for an lbw peal and the finger goes up! Fills in and slides around with the left arm, as opposed to turning away.

Probably too full for the sweep. Marsh still goes for the shot and is struck on the front pad in line with middle. Or did he manage to get outside the line by shuffling across.

Marsh has reviewed this. Flat line on UltraEdge as ball passes bat. No bat involved for sure.

Impact in line and it would have crashed into leg stump. Fortuyn dismissed Marsh for 56, Bjorn Fortuyn was mobbed by his teammates, South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 A corker of the yorker, and Coetzee bowled Connolly. Angling around the wicket, right into the blockhole.

Connolly fails to get his bat on it and the ball crashes into off stump Cooper Connolly was bowled by a terrific yorker from Gerald Coetzee, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Caught brilliantly at point! Peake will have to wait for his maiden fifty! Quick catch from Fortuin, diving to his left and taking it with both hands.

Partially short and angling over the stumps, Peake slashes in the air and falls to the first ball after the drink. Was there to be cut, but Peake couldn’t lift it over the infielder full around off. Renshaw looks to slog it towards wide long-on but gets a leading edge that skies towards mid-off.

It was also a slow ball and I think that led to the miss. Markram settles under it short of length at the batter. Carey backs away but fails to create enough room and ends up cutting it straight to short third a length ball around off.

Bartlett swings across but misses and the ball nips back in to hit the outer part of off stump a short ball. Green goes for the pull but is late on the shot. The ball hits the gloves and lobs behind the stumps for de Kock to take a sitter.

Meanwhile, Green has lost his balance and falls to the ground in another slow motion. Cummins is early into the shot and ends up hitting it towards deep midwicket. Britzke makes no mistakes it looks plumb and the finger goes up!

So humble that Markram doesn’t even care about the review. Very full from Bartlett, angling in and swings away to smack the back pad in line with middle. Bartlett earns reward for some excellent swing bowling.

It would have crashed into middle What have you done, Quinton? Hip-high short ball on leg stump. De Kock, instead of hitting it to deep square leg, lofted it into the air to Starc in the outfield.

In the previous game, Markram bagged a duck. Here it’s de Kock who is gone for a duck. A bit of good fortunate for Bartlett early doors Xavier Bartlett and Co celebrate Quinton de Kock’s dismissal, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 a length ball around off, turns away and beats the outside edge as the batter looks to defend.

Carey whips the bails off. And the Australians are celebrating. We are going upstairs.

The foot was grounded but was any part of it behind the line – that’s the question for the third umpire. There’s nothing behind the line, he says, and it’s a googly. Stubbs looks to defend on the front foot but misses and gets hit on the pads.

An peal for lbw and the umpire has no hesitation in raising his finger. Stubbs walks off before turning around and deciding to review it. Looks like he was just in time.

The only thing that can save him is that it is going down the leg side. Not so, it would have hit the leg stump just below the bails Adam Zampa celebrates after dismissing Tristan Stubbs, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Hip-high short ball on leg stump.

De Kock, instead of hitting it to deep square leg, lofted it into the air to Starc in the outfield. In the previous game, Markram bagged a duck. Here it’s de Kock who is gone for a duck.

Bartlett’s early doors are a bit lucky, it looks plumb and fingers crossed! So humble that Markram doesn’t even care about the review. Very full from Bartlett, angled in and swung to hit the back pad down the middle line.

Bartlett earns reward for some excellent swing bowling. It would have crashed down the middle, Adam Zampa celebrates after dismissing Tristan Stubbs, South Africa v Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 A length ball, spins away and hits the outside edge as the batsman looks to defend. Carey whips the bails off.

And the Australians are celebrating. We are going upstairs. The foot was grounded but was any part of it behind the line – that’s the question for the third umpire.

Nothing behind the line, he says, and that’s out a googly. Stubbs looks to defend on the front foot but misses and is hit on the pads. There is no hesitation in pealing for LBW and raising a finger to the umpire.

Stubbs walks off before turning around and deciding to review it. Looks like he was just in time. The only thing that can save him is if it’s going down the leg side.

It’s not, it would have hit leg stump just below the bail What have you done, Quinton? Hip-high short ball on leg stump. Instead of whipping it over deep square leg, de Kock chips it in the air to Starc in the outfield.

So plumb that Markram doesn’t even bother about a review. Very full from Bartlett, angling in and swings away to smack the back pad in line with middle. Bartlett received the award for outstanding swing bowling.

It would have crashed into middle a length ball around off, turns away and beats the outside edge as the batter looks to defend. Carey whips the bails off. And the Australians are celebrating.

We are going upstairs. The foot was on the ground but any part of it was behind the line – this is a question for the third umpire. Nothing behind the line, he says, and that’s out a googly.

Stubbs looks to defend on the front foot but misses and gets hit on the pads. There is no hesitation in pealing for LBW and raising a finger to the umpire. Stubbs walks off before turning around and deciding to review it.

Looks like he was just in time. The only thing that can save him is if it’s going down the leg side. It’s not, it would have hit leg stump just below the bail Adam Zampa celebrates after dismissing Tristan Stubbs, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Six ODIs in Zimbabwe and South Africa were set to provide key intel for Australia heading to next year’s World Cup but they leave with more questions than answers Green suffered a blow in the groin while batting and did not field despite being set to bowl while Renshaw was forced off the field due to a blow on the wrist and did not return Cameron Green reacts after copping a blow while batting, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 SA vs Aus, 3rd ODI – Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa star as Australia win rain-affected finale Alex Carey takes evasive action, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 Having already won the series, South Africa rested their key players, including Temba Bavuma, with an eye on the Test series Keshav Maharaj broke Australia’s barnstorming opening stand, South Africa vs Australia, 1st ODI, Durban, September 24, 2026 SA spinner talks about watching and learning from his Australian counterpart, whose brain he tries to pick “as much as possible” Keshav Maharaj turns into a passionate umpire after dismissing Glenn Phillips, New Zealand vs South Africa, T20 World Cup, Group D, Ahmedabad, February 14, 2026 SA vs Aus, 3rd ODI – Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh, Adam Zampa star as Australia win rain-affected finale Alex Carey takes evasive action, South Africa vs Australia, 3rd ODI, Potchefstroom, September 30, 2026 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 Keshav Maharaj tripped up Australia’s chase, South Africa vs Australia, 2nd ODI, Johannesburg, September 27, 2026 A wide-angle view of The Wanderers, South Africa v West Indies, 5th ODI, Johannesburg, February 3, 2008 A wide-angle view of The Wanderers, South Africa v West Indies, 5th ODI, Johannesburg, February 3, 2008 A wide-angle view of The Wanderers, South Africa v West Indies, 5th ODI, Johannesburg, February 3, 2008 SA vs AUS 2026/27, SA vs AUS 3rd ODI Match Preview – Eyes on weather as Australia look to avoid clean sweep against South Africa SA vs AUS 2026/27 South Africa vs Australia Match Preview: 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 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 The Keshav Maharaj-led spin contingent from South Africa has tripped up Australia • South Africa’s answer to heavier cricket calendar Firdose Moonda is ‘s senior correspondent for Africa and women’s cricket Australia’s Africa ODI tour review: middle order and middle overs remain concerns Green, Renshaw pick up injuries ahead of Test series Carey, Marsh, Zampa star as Australia win rain-affected finale Markram-led South Africa make five changes and opt to bowl Maharaj and Lyon resume their bromance, ten years after first meeting