Australia Search for Smith, Maxwell Replacements as South Africa’s Brevis Eyes ODI Debut

Australia Search for Smith, Maxwell Replacements as South Africa’s Brevis Eyes ODI Debut

Australia and South Africa are set to reignite their ODI rivalry as they begin preparations for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. The three-match series, beginning August 18 in Cairns, will be the first time the sides face off in the format since Australia triumphed over South Africa in the 2023 World Cup semi-final.

Fresh Faces in a New Cycle

The series marks the start of a new era for both teams following key retirements. Australia bid farewell to Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell in ODIs, while South Africa are adjusting to life after Heinrich Klaasen, who has retired from all international formats. Their absence opens opportunities for a new generation of cricketers aiming to secure spots ahead of the 2027 showpiece.

South Africa’s Dewald Brevis, who impressed in the recent T20I series, is set to make his ODI debut. Known for his explosive batting, the 22-year-old will look to transition that form into the 50-over game. Meanwhile, Australia have made several forced changes to their original squad, with Matt Short (side strain), Mitchell Owen (concussion), and Lance Morris (back injury) all ruled out. Their replacements include Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie, and Matt Kuhnemann.

Australia will continue to rest senior pacers Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc. However, Marnus Labuschagne, eyeing a return to the Test squad, is back in the ODI setup and could play a pivotal role.

Bavuma Leads South Africa; Maharaj Returns

Temba Bavuma returns to lead South Africa, fresh from lifting the World Test Championship mace at Lord’s. Spinner Keshav Maharaj also returns to bolster the Proteas' bowling attack. Promising seamer Kwena Maphaka has been added to the ODI squad following an impressive showing in the youth circuit but may not feature in the starting XI.

Australia are led by Mitchell Marsh and will likely rely on a combination of experience and youth, with Travis Head, Josh Hazlewood, and Adam Zampa expected to feature prominently. Allrounder Cameron Green could slot in at No. 3, while Aaron Hardie is tipped to play a key role in the middle order.

Form Guide

  • Australia: L W L L L

  • South Africa: L W W L L

Players to Watch

Marnus Labuschagne (Australia): The middle-order batter has had a mixed ODI run of late, with a top score of 47 in his last eight innings. However, he averaged 52.11 between September 2023 and September 2024 and remains a valuable asset in the format.

Wiaan Mulder (South Africa): Known more for his bowling, Mulder was South Africa’s joint-highest wicket-taker at the recent Champions Trophy. He'll be looking to build consistency with both bat and ball.

Likely XIs

Australia (Probable):
Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (capt), Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa (Probable):
Temba Bavuma (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Matthew Breetzke/Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

Pitch and Conditions

Cairns has historically offered something for the bowlers. In the 2022 series against New Zealand, the highest score in six innings was just 267. Spinners and slower bowlers may come into play with some grip and hold expected in the surface. Dew could be a factor in the second innings, making the toss potentially crucial.

Key Stats

  • Cameron Green's highest ODI score (89*) came in Cairns.

  • Marsh has won the toss 20 times as captain across formats—and chosen to bowl every time.

  • Bavuma and Maharaj are both set to reach 50 ODI appearances if they play two matches in this series.

  • The last ODIs in Cairns prior to 2022 were played 19 years earlier.

What They Said

"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 the same stuff rolls on."
— Mitchell Marsh, Australia captain

"It’s always exciting when you see the young faces. Obviously the big talk has been on Brevis… excited to see what he can also bring within the one-day stuff."
— Temba Bavuma, South Africa captain

With the countdown to the 2027 World Cup now underway, both teams have a chance to build depth and experiment—while renewing one of ODI cricket’s most compelling rivalries.