Australia’s Aaron Finch plays a shot during the second one day international (ODI) cricket match of a three-match series between India and Australia at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on January 17, 2020. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE
South Africa vs Australia second ODI: Finch wins the toss and bats
Aaron Finch won the toss and the Australia skipper opted to bat first in the second ODI against South Africa in Bloemfontein on Wednesday 4 March.
Australia’s Aaron Finch plays a shot during the second one day international (ODI) cricket match of a three-match series between India and Australia at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot on January 17, 2020. (Photo by Jewel SAMAD / AFP) / IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE – STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE
Australia won the toss and have elected to bat first in the second ODI against South Africa in Bloemfontein.
Temba Bavuma has been withdrawn from the series as a precautionary measure to ensure he is fit to tour India. Rassie Van der Dussen replaces him in the squad but Jon-Jon Smuts takes his place in the XI and is down to bat at number three.
Van der Dussen joins the squad for the remainder of the home summer despite being initially rested for the ODI series against Australia.
Janneman Malan will open the batting with skipper Quinton de Kock.
On a dry pitch at the Mangaung Oval it is no surprise that South Africa have retained their two spinners from the first ODI. It would be no surprise to see Keshav Maharaj introduced into the attack early on, while Tabraiz Shamsi should fulfill his usual role of probing for wickets through the ‘middle overs’.
Australia have brought in a second frontline spinner in Ashton Agar, leaving out paceman Josh Hazlewood. That gives skipper Aaron Finch four or five options for slow bowling. D’Arcy Short and Mitchell Marsh failed miserably in their attempt to make up a fifth bowler in Paarl, but a clearly dry surface might encourage Finch to give his part-time spinners a whirl.
Smuts provides de Kock with an extra slow-bowling option but is under pressure to perform with the bat after a lean summer in the green and gold.
South Africa vs Australia playing XIs
Australia: 1 David Warner, 2 Aaron Finch, 3 Steve Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Mitchell Marsh, 6 Alex Carey, 7 D’Arcy Short, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Ashton Agar, 10 Pat Cummins, 11 Adam Zampa
South Africa: 1 Janneman Malan, 2 Quinton de Kock, 3 Jon-Jon Smuts, 4 Kyle Verreyne, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Andile Phehlukwayo, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Anrich Nortje, 10 Lungi Ngidi, 11 Tabriaz Shamsi
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