South Africa open a three-match one-day series against Australia in Durban on 24 September, with Temba Bavuma back in the 50-over side after a long absence. The tour also doubles as an early checkpoint for the Proteas as they start shaping the group they want for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, which they will co-host with Zimbabwe and Namibia.
A captain back in familiar colours
Bavuma’s return gives South Africa an experienced leader at a crucial moment. He has not featured in an ODI since December 2025, and the break has clearly made the occasion feel bigger for him personally.
On the eve of the first match, he said the squad is determined to protect its recent ODI standards and keep building momentum. He also admitted he is simply happy to be back among the group, chasing balls and sharing the field again after such a lengthy layoff.
The ODI run that will shape World Cup planning
South Africa are set to play as many as nine ODIs over the next four months, with Australia, Bangladesh and England all part of the schedule. That stretch gives the selectors and coaching staff a broad look at combinations, roles and depth before the home World Cup arrives.
Bavuma has described the process as both practical and mental, saying the team must keep thinking about what a home tournament means while continuing to perform in the present. Head coach Shukri Conrad made the same point when the squad was named, stressing that the coming matches are a key stage in refining the group while still offering chances to players pushing for places later in the season.
The captain also made it clear that the side’s central structure is already taking shape. He expects the core to remain largely intact, although he acknowledged that the tour’s later stages, especially the England series, should bring new faces into the conversation and leave South Africa much closer to their final World Cup picture.
Opening pair questions remain unsettled
One of the biggest selection issues is who will partner Quinton de Kock at the top of the order. Bavuma has filled both an opening role and the No. 3 spot for South Africa, and he confirmed that he will remain somewhere in the top three, though the exact batting position is still to be decided.
Tony de Zorzi is another option because he, too, has experience in both roles. Aiden Markram adds another layer of complexity, since he is only available for the second and third ODIs, which means South Africa must balance continuity with short-term availability as they settle the batting order.
Selection choices point to a changing attack
Gerald Coetzee’s return to the ODI squad is one of the more notable changes. At the same time, Kagiso Rabada is unavailable because of injury, although he is still hoping to be fit in time for the Test series that follows.
With Rabada sidelined, South Africa’s pace unit includes Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen and Coetzee. The batting group also shows a different balance, with Dewald Brevis omitted while Matthew Breetzke, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs provide middle-order support. Bjorn Fortuin and Keshav Maharaj are the two specialist spin options.
The squad has a fresh feel compared with South Africa’s most recent ODI assignment against Namibia, and that reflects the wider purpose of this series. It is not just about beating Australia; it is also about testing which players can handle pressure, adapt quickly and stay in contention for a tournament that is now clearly coming into view.
The Test series is impossible to ignore
Even with the ODIs first on the calendar, the three-Test series that follows is already lingering in everyone’s mind. It will count toward the ICC World Test Championship and will be the first time the sides meet in red-ball cricket since South Africa’s title-winning triumph in the 2025 WTC Final at Lord’s.
Bavuma said it is difficult not to talk about the Tests while preparing for the one-day games, especially given how much anticipation surrounds the contest. He expects a proper examination if both teams are fully fit and able to field their strongest elevens, but he also said the challenge now is to keep emotions in check until that part of the tour actually begins.
Durban sits at the centre of the whole visit, hosting both the opening ODI and the first Test. That makes the city the launch point for two separate phases of the tour, with Johannesburg and Potchefstroom handling the remaining 50-over matches before the red-ball leg moves on to Gqeberha and then back to Johannesburg.
Recent meetings and what lies ahead
South Africa and Australia have met in 113 ODIs, with the Proteas holding a narrow overall edge of 57 wins to 52, alongside three ties and one no-result. On home soil, South Africa also lead the rivalry, winning 28 times to Australia’s 22.
The broader schedule now gives both sides a clear rhythm. The ODI series runs from 24 to 30 September, and the Test matches follow from 9 to 31 October, giving South Africa a long stretch of high-level cricket to define their strongest combinations before the World Cup picture becomes much sharper.
Squads and match programme
South Africa’s ODI squad features Temba Bavuma, Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton and Tristan Stubbs.
Australia’s group includes Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa.
The first ODI is in Durban on 24 September, the second in Johannesburg on 27 September, and the third in Potchefstroom on 30 September. The Test series then begins in Durban from 9 to 13 October, continues in Gqeberha from 18 to 22 October, and finishes in Johannesburg from 27 to 31 October.
Arthur Pendelton creates content focused on casino comparisons, betting platforms, and user-focused gambling guides.