South Africa vs Australia starts on Thursday at Kingsmead in Durban, the first of three ODIs. Temba Bavuma returns as captain for his first 50-over match since December 2025. Three seamers from the original squad have since been ruled out with hamstring injuries. The series opens a nine-match run of ODIs leading into the Cricket World Cup 2027 at home.
For Bavuma, the wait has felt personal. He spoke to reporters in Durban on the eve of the opener, and the time away was clearly on his mind.
“I think, for me personally, it’s been a super long break,” Bavuma said. “So, just to be out there again, running around, chasing after the balls with the guys, that’s something that I look forward to.”
His last ODI came against India in December 2025, according to the ICC. South Africa’s most recent one-day assignment was a three-match series against Namibia, with several senior players rested.
Hamstrings Hit the Proteas Pace Attack
The squad announced on September 7 looked close to full strength. Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, David Miller, Corbin Bosch and Quinton de Kock all came back after sitting out the Namibia series.
Two weeks later, the bowling group looks very different. Ottneil Baartman was ruled out on September 12, and Duan Jansen took his place. Lungi Ngidi followed on September 18, with Nqobani Mokoena called up.
Then, on September 23, Kwena Maphaka strained his right hamstring in training. Lizaad Williams replaces him. The 2021 debutant brings eight ODI caps, according to CricTracker.
| Player | Injury | Ruled Out | Replacement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | Right hamstring | Before selection | Not selected |
| Ottneil Baartman | Hamstring | September 12 | Duan Jansen |
| Lungi Ngidi | Hamstring | September 18 | Nqobani Mokoena |
| Kwena Maphaka | Right hamstring strain | September 23 | Lizaad Williams |
The seam group now available has 72 ODIs between them, according to Devdiscourse. That group is Williams, Marco Jansen, Duan Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Bosch and Mokoena.
Bavuma did not pretend the losses were small. “We definitely have to adapt. I mean, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, those are not guys that you can just replace at the top of the hat,” he said.
“In true South African fashion, we’ll have to make it work,” he added. He also admitted the injury count worries the camp. “It is concerning. I don’t think we shy away from that,” Bavuma said.
The squad is “working together to see where is it that we can be a lot better in terms of managing the players,” he said.
There is still pride in what the attack is meant to represent. “We want teams when they come here to South Africa know that they’re going to have to deal with our fast bowlers. That’s part of our DNA,” Bavuma said.
Coetzee’s recall matters more now. He had not played an ODI since the 2023 World Cup in India. Head coach Shukri Conrad welcomed him back at the squad announcement. “It’s great to see Gerald back in the fold and, by all accounts, he’s been bowling nice and quickly,” Conrad said.
Rabada injured his right hamstring in training in mid-August. Conrad sounded hopeful on September 21 about the Tests that follow. “It’s going quite nicely, the rehab and the programs that he’s on. I’d be very surprised if we didn’t see him during the Test series,” Conrad said, according to ANI.
Who Walks Out With Quinton de Kock?
The batting has its own puzzle. Markram will miss the Durban opener for personal reasons, according to cricket.com.au. He is available for the second and third matches.
Bavuma has batted both as an opener and at number three. He confirmed he will stay in the top three, without naming a slot. “Whoever pairs up with Quinton (de Kock) at the top, that we’ll decide,” he said.
Tony de Zorzi has also filled both roles for his country, and Ryan Rickelton is in the squad too. Matthew Breetzke, Miller and Tristan Stubbs make up the middle order. Bjorn Fortuin and Keshav Maharaj are the specialist spinners.
Dewald Brevis is not part of the group. He is focusing on first-class cricket ahead of the Tests, according to cricket.com.au. Bavuma still wants his batters to be bold. “If there’s an opportunity to get a score over 350, we will do so,” he said.
Australia arrive for this South Africa vs Australia series with changes of their own under captain Pat Cummins. Billy Stanlake suffered a side strain during the second ODI against Zimbabwe in Harare. Spencer Johnson was released to join Australia A. Jack Edwards has flown in from India and could make his ODI debut, according to cricket.com.au.
Nine ODIs to Shape a Home World Cup
South Africa will co-host the Cricket World Cup 2027 with Zimbabwe and Namibia. Before then, the Proteas play three ODIs against Australia, three against Bangladesh in December and three against England in January 2027.
Bavuma believes the core of the side is already settled. “From a team perspective, we generally know who those core players are. I don’t think we will move away too much from that,” he said.
He still left the door open. “We’ll see new faces coming in,” Bavuma said. He expects “that England series will be closer to what we think we will have for the World Cup.” That series ends on January 15 in Bloemfontein.
Recent history favours the hosts in South Africa vs Australia ODIs. The Proteas lead the ODI head-to-head 57-52, with three ties, according to cricket.com.au. They have also won their last five bilateral ODI series against Australia. Australia’s last series win came in November 2014, a 4-1 result.
“It’s been a while since this ODI team has come together. I think there’s a strong desire to look after our ODI record of late,” Bavuma said.
| Match | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| First ODI | September 24 | Kingsmead, Durban |
| Second ODI | September 27 | Wanderers, Johannesburg |
| Third ODI | September 30 | JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom |
| First Test | October 9 to 13 | Kingsmead, Durban |
| Second Test | October 18 to 22 | St George’s Park, Gqeberha |
| Third Test | October 27 to 31 | Newlands, Cape Town |
The three Tests are part of the ICC World Test Championship. They bring the first Test meeting between the sides since South Africa beat Australia in the 2025 WTC Final at Lord’s. Rabada took nine wickets in that match, and his fitness will be watched closely before Kingsmead on October 9.
For now, Bavuma’s focus stays on the white ball. After nine months away from the format, he leads again in front of a home crowd. The attack is patched up, and the World Cup is edging closer.
