Ellis, Davies ruled out to further deplete Aussies

Australia have suffered two more soft-tissue injuries on their African tour as substitute fielder Joel Davies joined Nathan Ellis as a casualty from a bruising second ODI defeat at the Wanderers.

Jack Edwards, who took a maiden five-wicket haul in Ellis' absence on Sunday, is also being monitored with a hamstring concern but joined the ODI squad on their 90-minute bus trip from Johannesburg to Potchefstroom.

Having bowled only four overs after leaving the field mid-innings on Sunday, Ellis has been confirmed to have suffered a left side strain. Davies meanwhile strained his right hamstring while fielding in Sunday's 32-run loss.

It comes after Billy Stanlake also suffered a side strain during the preceding ODI series in Zimbabwe. Josh Inglis has flew home with a broken finger after the first ODI in Durban.

If Edwards is unavailable, it would leave Australia with only 12 fit players for their dead-rubber one-dayer in Potchefstroom, a university town and sports hub on South Africa's Highveld which is roughly the size of Townsville.

The white-ball squad have been joined by Test players who have flown in for this weekend's two-day tour game, also at JB Marks Oval. Some may need to run drinks or sub-field in the third ODI.

Ellis' injury came while he was playing his fifth ODI in 12 days. The 32-year-old has further elevated his 50-over standing in that time - his haul of 22 wickets (at 17.22) in ODIs this year is topped only by two bowlers globally.

Having almost certainly bowled himself into a World Cup spot next year, the right-armer has more than six weeks to recover before Australia's next white-ball engagement - a three-ODI, five-T20I home series against England in November.

Had he been fit, Davies might have contended for an ODI debut on Wednesday after carrying the drinks through the Zimbabwe and South Africa ODIs.

The concern over Edwards comes after his rapid late dash from India, where he had been preparing to play in the Australia A four-day series, to South Africa to cover for fellow allrounder Cameron Green, who has not yet bowled on the tour due to a shoulder concern.

Edwards also hurt his hamstring earlier this year playing in the Sheffield Shield, while he subsequently missed the IPL due to a broken foot. 

Ollie Peake stands as a willing replacement, the youngster having been an unfortunate omission after some impressive showings against Zimbabwe.

With Ellis out, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc should both return to the XI unless selectors play fellow Test quick Josh Hazlewood for a third ODI on the trot.

Australia will be eager for one of Edwards or Green to be bowling on one of the highest-scoring ODI pitches in the country. The average first-innings winning score is 317 and spin collectively averages 15 runs more per wicket than pace.

Speaking to cricket.com.au after the second ODI, Matthew Renshaw said of Green's shoulder: "He's been having a little trouble for a while with it and unfortunately he just can't get much overarm when he needs it.

"He's been doing a really good job for us. When his shoulder gets right, he'll be able to bowl as well."

After being bowled out for 230 in Durban's series opener, Renshaw suggested Australia had vowed to take a more circumspect approach against the Proteas spinners. The middle-order bottled their pursuit of 298 after Mitch Marsh and Travis Head's rapid 90-run stand inside the Powerplay.

Those same openers laid another strong foundation three days later, pounding 130 in just 17 overs. But while South Africa had gone at nine-per-over for the second half of their innings to post 365 earlier in the day, the visitors were bogged down on a wearing surface and went 2-38 between overs 30-41 after being ahead of the required rate.

"(In the first ODI) we got off to such a good start then might have gone a little bit too hard, some interesting shots," said Renshaw who has returned 32 and 44 in the two defeats. "But today (for the second ODI) we just spoke about trying to build partnerships and go that way. Unfortunately the rate got a little bit too high for us."

Renshaw, part of a middle-order batting group trying to replace World Cup-winners Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis, insisted the games were beneficial ahead of a return to southern Africa for their 50-over title defence next year.

"Pretty new batting group together as well and not many of us have batted more than 20 games," said Renshaw, who has played only 14 ODIs after making his debut last year.

"It's a really good opportunity to learn what we're going to come up against, whether it's a semi-final or the World Cup (pool game) against South Africa and we've seen what they've done before.

"It's really good opportunity to experience the conditions to see what they might throw at us."

Qantas tour of South Africa 2026

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

First ODI: South Africa beat Australia by 67 runs

Second ODI: South Africa beat Australia by 32 runs

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, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom, 6pm AEST (10am local)

First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban, 6:30pm AEDT (9:30am local)

Second Test: October 18-22, St George's Park, Gqeberha, 7pm AEDT (10am local)

Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands, Cape Town, 7:30pm AEDT (10:30am local)

South Africa's preliminary first Test squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Marques Ackerman, David Bedingham, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Tony de Zorzi, Simon Harmer, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Anrich Nortje, Dane Paterson, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Kyle Verreynne

Australia Test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster