South Africa are in Australia for a short white-ball tour, kicking off the action with a three-match T20I series.
Both teams will be looking to get their pool of players ready for next year’s T20 World Cup, fine-tuning the shortcomings in the meantime.
Here are our preview and predictions for the first T20I between Australia and South Africa.
The hosts come into the series after a clean sweep in the Caribbean and will be looking for a similar result at home. Mitchell Marsh will lead a transitional white-ball Australian squad with a mix of youth and experience.
Along with the explosive Travis Head at the top, Marsh also has the impressive new Mitchell Owen at his disposal. The Aussie batting unit is an explosive one, with the likes of Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Tim David, and Josh Inglis rounding out the middle order.
The experienced Josh Hazlewood is set to lead the Australian bowling attack, supported by the likes of Adam Zampa, Sean Abbott, and Nathan Ellis. Their bowling could be considered the weaker aspect of their game, though, making it imperative for all-rounders like Maxwell and Green to step up.
South Africa, meanwhile, have Aiden Markram leading a strong, explosive batting unit boasting the likes of Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, and Rassie van der Dussen. In the bowling department, the experienced Kagiso Rabada returns to the Proteas squad after missing out on the tri-series in Zimbabwe. Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, and Nandre Burger make up the pace attack.
This will be the first international game at Marrara Oval in over a decade. The pitch here should offer plenty of assistance for the bowlers, whom we back to make the difference in this match-up.
It should be a close encounter, but we give the hosts the edge to start the series with a win.
Fantasy XI: Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Cameron Green, Tristan Stubbs, Glenn Maxwell, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
Venue: Marrara Oval, Darwin, Northern Territory
Winners Prediction: Australia
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