Carey out, Edwards, Green, Starc all in for first ODI

Alex Carey has been dropped, Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green will play their first matches of Australia's Africa tour, while Jack Edwards has been named to make his ODI debut against the Proteas in Durban.

Mitch Marsh elected to bowl first on an overcast morning in Kingsmead after Edwards was presented with Australia men's ODI cap No.254 by resting captain Pat Cummins.

South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj 

 

Australia XI: Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (c), Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Mitch Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

Ollie Peake is an unfortunate omission having impressed with his finishing ability in the 3-0 ODI sweep of Zimbabwe last week. He is a victim of Green being unlikely to bowl much – if at all – in this series opener on what was expected to be a seam-friendly surface.

South Africa's call then to pick dual left-arm spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin is therefore something of a surprise, though the loss of five seam bowlers to injury (including Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi) may have left them with little choice.

Gerald Coetzee, the right-arm quick who broke Travis Head's hand before the 2023 World Cup, returns for his first ODI since that tournament's semi-final in Kolkata where Australia beat the Proteas in a nail-biter.

Captain Temba Bavuma has been listed at first drop while Aiden Markram will miss the first ODI for personal reasons.

Green's sore shoulder meanwhile has opened the door for Edwards, flown over last-minute from the Australia A tour of India, to make his bow after also making his T20I debut against Pakistan in January.

Hazlewood is back to partner Starc after playing only one of three ODIs in Harare last week, while Nathan Ellis holds his spot with Cummins on ice. Marsh remains captain with Cummins prioritising preparation for next month's three Tests against South Africa.

Carey has played all but two of Australia's last 20 ODIs – missing one against India last summer when he was prioritising Ashes preparation, and another earlier in 2025 when the Aussies rotated their side in a pre-Champions Trophy tune-up in Sri Lanka – as a specialist batter alongside wicketkeeper Josh Inglis.

But his omission here comes after averaging 19.80 from his last 16 international innings since his dominant Adelaide Test in December, making 106 and 72 against England. He has passed fifty only once in his last 11 ODI innings.

The 26-year-old Edwards had modest returns in last season's domestic One-Day Cup (one run from three innings and as many wickets from 21 overs). But he did hit a 75-ball 89 from No.8 in Kanpur against an India A attack led by Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana in October last year, while also taking four wickets in two 50-over matches.

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

All matches to be broadcast exclusively in Australia on Kayo and Fox Cricket

First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, 6pm AEST (10am local)

Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 9:30pm AEST (D/N, 1:30pm local)

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs

Australia ODI squad: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa