South Africa aim to break mirror image
A preview of the third one-day international between South Africa and Australia in Cape Town
Match facts
Start time 2.30pm (12.30GMT)
Big Picture
Two one-sided contests in the first two matches, one to Australia and one to South Africa, means it's impossible to predict what will happen from game to game. With each alternating result the No. 1 ODI ranking has switched hands and it's starting to look like a booby prize that neither side wants to hold on to. But the individual matches mean little in terms of the ranking - whichever team wins the series finishes on top.Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)
South Africa WLWWWAustralia LWNWW
Watch out for
The biggest surprise out of the Centurion match was how dangerous Wayne Parnell can be with the new ball. His early swing and accuracy was the key reason Australia's top order collapsed and he was named the Man of the Match in his second one-day international. As a left-armer he adds variety to an already dangerous South African attack and he has the potential to be a useful allrounder, although his batting is yet to be seen at international level.Team news
Given his powerful record in Cape Town, Makhaya Ntini will come into the calculations for South Africa but it's hard to see where he can fit into a side whose attack was so dominant in the previous game. The South Africans also sprung a surprise in Centurion by dropping Hashim Amla despite his recent strong one-day form. But again, it's difficult to justify changes to a team that has just won a match with nearly half its overs remaining.Stats and Trivia
- On Australia's last tour of South Africa in 2005-06 they were routed for 93 in the ODI at Newlands, where Makhaya Ntini took 6 for 22
- Ricky Ponting didn't play that match and only three of Australia's current touring party took part: Michael Clarke, Michael Hussey and Nathan Bracken
- Ntini, who may or may not play, has featured in 10 ODIs at Newlands and has a remarkable record of 27 wickets at 10.14 at the venue
Quotes
"It's been a hard three or four months against Australia and it's been really competitive. Hopefully, starting tomorrow, we can turn things around and change the hoodoo."Graeme Smith wants the mirror image of results from the Australian series to end
Ricky Ponting on the last time Australia played an ODI in Cape Town, when they lost by 196 runs