South Africa add Maphaka to ODI squad as Brevis primed to
make debut against Australia
CAIRNS, Aug 18: Australia’s stand-in ODI skipper Mitchell Marsh said he does not anticipate a major shift in the side’s batting approach as they move from T20Is against South Africa to ODIs against the same opposition, starting at the Cazalys Stadium on Tuesday.
After captaining Australia to 2-1 T20I series win, Marsh will again lead the ODI side in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, who has been rested. In the T20I series, Australia employed a strategy of attacking from the word go – which brought success but also left them dealing with collapses.
But Marsh is backing Australia to continue the high-tempo batting style in ODIs. “Getting ready to spend three and a half hours in the field will be a little bit different for a few of the boys. 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,” Marsh told reporters on Monday.
Marsh has captained Australia nine times in ODIs, including tours to South Africa in 2023 and England in 2024, when Cummins was unavailable. Known for preferring to chase in T20Is, Marsh hinted that the same trend could be extended by hosts’ to the ODI series.
“It’s a bit of a common trend, generally speaking, in T20 cricket these days. You get to assess the conditions, but you also just know what you’re chasing. I’m certainly not afraid to bat first. But we have lent towards bowling first. Playing with dew is not something that we’re used to in Australia. We saw the ball get really soft in Darwin (during the third T20I). That’s been a different challenge for us,” he added.
The second and third ODIs will be played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Friday and Sunday.
PROTEAS SQUAD
South Africa add Maphaka to ODI squad as Brevis primed to make debut against Australia
Cairns, Aug 18 (IANS) South Africa have added teenage fast bowler Kwena Maphaka to their ODI squad for the three-match series against Australia starting on Tuesday in Cairns and are also poised to hand a 50-over international debut to in-form batter Dewald Brevis.
Maphaka, 19, forced his way into the ODI following a breakout display in the recent T20I series against Australia, where he picked up nine wickets to finish as the leading wicket-taker.
The left-arm pacer has already two ODI caps, and could be in starting eleven as South Africa seek to put up a strong challenge against Australia.
Brevis, meanwhile, is almost certain to make his ODI debut after a stellar T20I series saw him smash a rollicking 41-ball century in Darwin and follow up with a blazing half-century in Cairns to finish with 180 runs and making him the top run-scorer across both teams.
South Africa’s ODI skipper Temba Bavuma said he had been impressed by Brevis’ form. “It’s always exciting when you see the young faces. Obviously the big talk has been on Brevis, (he’s been) putting up his hand and showing what he is capable of. (I’m) excited to see what he can also bring within the one-day stuff,” said Bavuma to reporters on Monday.
The ODI series against also marks Bavuma’s return to competitive cricket after leading South Africa to their maiden ICC World Test Championship crown at Lord’s in June.
Bavuma, 34, has recovered from the hamstring injury sustained during the WTC final and confirmed he will bat at number three behind openers Ryan Rickelton and Aiden Markram.
Bavuma is one of five players added to South Africa’s ODI squad alongside veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj, all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, and top-order batters Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi. After the series opener in Cairns on Tuesday, both teams will move to Mackay for the next two games to be held on Friday and Sunday. (IANS)