Cummins makes his ODI return – but not as captain

Pat Cummins will play his first ODI in almost two years - but not as captain - while Ollie Peake has been recalled to bat at number four in the dead-rubber 50-over series finale against South Africa in Potchefstroom.

South Africa meanwhile have changed their captain with Aiden Markram standing in for the rested Temba Bavuma. The home side's fill-in skipper won the toss (which had been delayed by 30 minutes due to a wet outfield) and elected to bowl first on a chilly Wednesday afternoon.

Overnight thunderstorms drenched the JB Marks Oval but groundstaff have sufficiently dried the oval for the only day-night match of the series.

Mitchell Starc is also back for the visitors with Josh Hazlewood (managed) and Nathan Ellis (side strain) making way. Jack Edwards, who had a hamstring complaint after the second ODI, has been left out for Peake.

Australia XI: Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Peake, Alex Carey (wk), Matthew Renshaw, Cameron Green, Xavier Bartlett, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

 

South Africa XI: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Gerald Coetzee, Nqobani Mokoena, Lizaad Williams

Alex Carey, Matthew Renshaw and Cameron Green all slip down a spot in the order. Green marked out his run-up during the warm-up, and the absence of Edwards could see him return to the bowling crease having so far only played as a batter in these ODIs due to a shoulder problem.

The Proteas, up 2-0 in the series, made five changes with Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee and Nqobani Mokoena coming in for Bavuma, David Miller, Marco and Duan Jansen along with Keshav Maharaj (all rested).

"It's just rotation really, obviously with one eye on the Test series to come," said Markram.

In an unusual and possibly unprecedented arrangement, Marsh remains skipper despite the return of Cummins, who Australia say is still their official captain in the format ahead of next year's World Cup.

The situation is both a reflection of the desire for continuity – Marsh had been leader for the preceding five ODIs in Zimbabwe and South Africa, and has helmed the side 15 times to Cummins' two since the last World Cup – and the fast bowler prioritising the three-Test series beginning in Durban next week.

"They've spent a lot of time with one another over 10-plus years," Starc told cricket.com.au before the series. "That's probably dripped into the captaincy discussion as well, where they're two very close mates who think similarly about the game (as) quite relaxed characters.

"Every time (Marsh) has had to take on the captaincy role in white-ball cricket, he's been up to task – he's got great respect from the group, and a guy you want to play for and play with.

"Ultimately they're very similar in their calmness and what they're looking to achieve."

Cummins has only played two ODIs since leading Australia to the 2023 World Cup title and this match marks his first 50-over appearance since November 2024.

While there has been a nominal focus on next year's World Cup in these conditions, Australia's seam bowlers have used the ODIs as glorified load-building sessions. The extra intensity of high-level one-day cricket against strong opponents is seen as better preparation for Tests than bowling in the nets.

With that in mind, Starc is back to play a second match in the series after sitting out Australia's 32-run defeat at the Wanderers, while Hazlewood misses after playing both in Johannesburg and the previous match in Durban. He also featured in one ODI in Harare the week before.

Peake meanwhile will be tried higher up the order than he's previously batted in international cricket having not gone higher than No.7 in seven previous innings. The 20-year-old had been an unfortunate omission for the Proteas games after shining against Zimbabwe.  

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