Australia v Proteas ODIs guide

How to watch

Fans can watch the three-match ODI series and one-off T20 on November 17 on Foxtel via Fox Cricket, and also on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

The series will be the first broadcast by Fox Cricket after they signed a six-year deal with Cricket Australia earlier this year to show all men’s and women’s internationals, every match of the KFC BBL and selected Rebel WBBL games. CA’s free-to-air partner, the Seven Network, will broadcast all men’s Test matches, all women’s internationals, the majority of BBL matches each season and selected Rebel WBBL games under the new deal.

The Fox Cricket coverage will feature the ground-breaking 4K resolution –  effectively double the number of pixels of a High Definition broadcast – and a new-look expert commentary team featuring Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Allan Border, Ian Healy, Mike Hussey, Isa Guha, Mel Jones, Ellyse Perry and Alyssa Healy.

In addition to the broadcast of the #AUSvSA series, live radio coverage from the ABC and Macquarie networks will also be streamed on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app.

You can catch all the news, reports and highlights from the series on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app and make sure you follow cricket.com.au on YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The fixtures

Nov 4: First ODI, Perth Stadium, 2.20pm AEDT (11.20am local)

Nov 9: Second ODI, Adelaide Oval, 2.20pm AEDT (1.50pm local)

Nov 11: Third ODI, Blundstone Arena, Hobart, 2.20pm AEDT

The squads

Australia

Australia have made a raft of changes from their most recent ODI campaign, with Aaron Finch taking over from Tim Paine as captain and star quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins all returning having missed the UK tour in June due to injury. Chris Lynn is also back in the squad, while Nathan Coulter-Nile returns for the first time in 12 months.

Squad: Aaron Finch (c), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Alex Carey (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Pat Cummins, Travis Head, Chris Lynn, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

South Africa

In addition to the retirement of superstar AB de Villiers earlier this year, the Proteas are missing star batsmen Hashim Amla and JP Duminy due to injury. Legendary paceman Dale Steyn, however, is in the squad and will form a formidable bowling attack alongside Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Imran Tahir.

Squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Dale Steyn.

The last time they met

The Test series between the two sides earlier this year will live long in the memory for all the wrong reasons, and Australia’s most recent ODI campaign against the Proteas is also one they’d rather forget. The Aussies took a below-strength side to South Africa two years ago and were thrashed 0-5, their first-ever five-match bilateral ODI series whitewash, as the Proteas batsmen hammered an inexperienced bowling attack.

Form guide

Australia

Last 10 matches: LLLLLLWLLL

It’s been a horror 18 months for Australia in one-day cricket, the World Cup champions winning just two of their past 16 matches to slide down to a historic low of sixth in the ICC world rankings. A 0-5 series loss in the UK in June was preceded by a 1-4 defeat against the same opposition at home last summer, their second 1-4 loss in a row having suffered the same fate in India 14 months ago.

South Africa

Last 10 matches: WWWLLWWWLL

The Proteas haven’t been at their absolute best in recent times, either, although they come into this series on the back of a 3-0 home thumping of Zimbabwe and a 3-2 win in Sri Lanka in August. Their 1-5 thrashing at home to India last summer was undoubtedly a blow heading into next year’s World Cup, but they do enter the series with winning form, even though they suffered a shock defeat to a young PM’s XI side in a warm-up match this week.

The key men

With their respective sides shorn of some of their best batsmen due to injury and suspension, there will be plenty of pressure on proven performers Aaron Finch and Quinton de Kock at the top of the order. The pair has an impressive 24 ODI hundreds between them and will instil plenty of fear into their opponents; Finch has four hundreds and a score of 94 in his past 11 ODI innings, while de Kock’s mighty 178 against the Aussies two years ago was one of the best from any player in recent times.

The battle we’re looking forward to

Some of the best fast bowlers in the world will face off in the coming weeks in a series that’s sure to have batsmen on both sides ducking for cover. If conditions suit, Australia could roll out a frightening four-man pace attack consisting of Starc, Hazlewood, Cummins and Coulter-Nile, although spinners Ashton Agar and Adam Zampa could put paid to that idea. Whatever bowling attack the Aussies produce, they’ll likely be up against a Proteas pace trio of Steyn, Rabada and Ngidi, one legend of the game and two young quicks who appear destined for greatness.

At-match app

If you’re lucky enough to attend an international men’s match this summer you’ll have all the essential gameday information at your fingertips courtesy of the Matchday App.

The app, supported by Gillette, is accessible directly from the existing CA Live App. Any attendee with the latest version of CA Live installed on their phone will be prompted to activate it before they get to the stadium. 

As well as having all the info you need for a great day at the cricket, the app also has details of how you can enter the draw for a chance to upgrade to Gillette’s amazing boundary seats that will give you the best view in the house.

Some of the features of the Matchday App include:

REGULAR updates on activities at match, such as prize giveaways, face painting, food stalls, and fan competitions;

MATCH information, such as when play is going to re-start if there’s a rain delay;

DETAILS of where to find the best food at the venue;

USEFUL transport information to make getting to and from the game easier.

Image Id: 4BA37142CCE946F69C39714F5368C50A Image Caption: A sneak peek at the new at-match app