South Africa v Australia, 5th ODI Preview: Proteas aim for a complete humiliation

Australia’s woes during the tour continued as they suffered yet another loss at the hands of the hosts in the 4th ODI. The Kangaroos have never suffered a whitewash in a five-match bilateral ODI series but they are now on the verge getting cleaned up completely and are trailing South Africa 4-0 in the ongoing series.

Steven Smith and Co. will be desperate to not let this happen. The Aussies need to buck up now and try to avert this disaster as they prepare to meet South Africa in the 5th and the final ODI of the bilateral series at the Newland Stadiums, regarded as one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in the world overlooked by Table Mountain and Devil’s Peak situated in Cape Town.

South Africa:

The hosts must go for the kill. The series is in their pockets but the upcoming game is perhaps the best chance to blank the World Champions Australia and dent their confidence in a huge way. There don’t seem to be having a huge problem. Hashim Amla had a silent comeback to the starting XI. But, he is too big of a player to be written off that easily.

Quinton de Kock has also earned a superb reputation and holds the same command with the bat at the moment. All-rounders JP Duminy and Farhan Behardien add balance between the bat and bowl. The bowling attack will be same most probably. Dwaine Pretorius, Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada and Andile Phehlukwayo, will form the pace battery while it will be interesting to see whom Faf du Plessis chooses between chinaman Tabraiz Shamsi and leg-spinner Imran Tahir for the lone spinner’s position available in the team.

Australia:

Steven Smith’s leadership has also come under immense pressure after the string of poor team performances. They have simply failed to play as a unit. Australia’s second line of fast bowlers consisting of youngsters Joe Mennie, David Worrall, and Chris Tremain, all top performers in the Australia domestic arena, have had a rude introduction to international cricket. The onus will be once again on fast bowler John Hasting and leg-spinner Adam Zampa.

Australia’s batting seemed to be getting back on track after spectacular knocks from Steven Smith and David Warner in the third ODI. However, the Proteas bowling attack made them look like complete amateurs in the previous game, bowling them out for just 167. Had Mitchell Marsh and Mathew Wade not hit fifties, things would have been much worse.

The bowling unit might be weakened but the batting line-up has the firepower. They have no option of making an excuse in that department. David Warner, Aaron Finch, George Bailey and the skipper himself will have to give respectable performance if they aim to compete against the red hot Proteas.

Match Details:

Date: October 12, 2016

Venue: Newlands Cricket & Legacy Stadium, Cape Town

Time: 13:30 local (11:30 GMT)

Telecast: Ten 3

Probable XI-

South Africa:

Faf du Plessis (C), Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Rilee Rossouw, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Imran Tahir, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott/Andile Phehlukwayo

Australia:

Steve Smith (C), Matthew Wade (wk), Aaron Finch, David Warner, George Bailey, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, John Hastings, Scot Boland/ David Worrall, Chris Tremain, Adam Zampa

Stats:

David Miller has scored 1,987 runs and needs another 13 to reach the 2,000 runs milestone.

Matthew Wade has taken 98 dismissals and needs 2 more to reach the 100 dismissals milestone.