Australia search for Smith, Maxwell replacements; Brevis likely to earn ODI debut
The two sides will play each other in an ODI for the first time since the 2023 World Cup
Andrew McGlashan
18-Aug-2025 • 4 hrs ago
Temba Bavuma and Mitchell Marsh ahead of the ODI series • Getty Images
Big Picture: Another World Cup build begins
There's always another World Cup to plan for. The recent T20I series had the more immediate focus of next February's tournament, but these three ODIs - the first for Australia and South Africa since the Champions Trophy - are the first step towards the 2027 50-over edition which the visitors will jointly host with Zimbabwe and Namibia.
These two teams have so much ODI history and in 2023 traded blows in India with South Africa winning the group game but Australia taking the semi-final. They were due to meet at the Champions Trophy but the match was washed out.
Since the Champions Trophy there have been three significant retirements between the sides: Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell from ODIs and Heinrich Klaasen from all internationals. They leave considerable holes to fill on the way to 2027.
Australia have had to make changes to their initial squad for this series with Matt Short (side), Mitchell Owen (concussion) and Lance Morris (back) ruled out which has opened the door for Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie and Matt Kuhnemann. Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins continue to rest but Marnus Labuschagne is in the squad and could play for the first time since losing his Test place in the West Indies.
South Africa will be led by Temba Bavuma who was last seen holding the World Test Championship mace aloft in emotional scenes at Lord's. Keshav Maharaj also returns to bring experience to the spin attack.
Form guide
Australia LWLLL (last five completed ODIs, most recent first)
South Africa LWWLL
South Africa LWWLL
In the spotlight: Marnus Labuschagne and Wiann Mulder
Does Marnus Labuschagne's road to the Ashes start in Cairns? It's perhaps a stretch, but despite the different format, runs in this series would certainly not be a bad thing as he embarks on trying to regain his place to face England in November. Labuschagne was dropped before the 2023 World Cup but earned a reprieve when called up as cover on a tour of South Africa and ended up making a vital 58 not out in the final against India. In a 12-month period from September 2023 to September 2024 he averaged 52.11 in ODIs with a strike rate of 85.43 but his last eight innings have brought a top score of 47.
Last month, Wiaan Mulder sent the cricket world into meltdown when he declared on 367 against Zimbabwe. He'll do well to stir quite as big a talking point in this series. His ODI record needs some work if he's to cement a long-term spot. At the Champions Trophy his bowling had more of an impact than his batting where he finished as South Africa's joint-leading wicket-taker including career-best figures of 3 for 25 against England.
Team news: Hardie could fill allrounder role; Brevis likely to debut
Green will return to the middle order, or potentially No. 3, while Josh Inglis and Alex Carey are set to continue featuring together. There will likely be some rotation among the quicks with three games in five days. Josh Hazlewood played all three T20Is so may be due to sit out.
Australia (possible): 1 Travis Head, 2 Mitchell Marsh (capt), 3 Cameron Green, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Josh Inglis (wk), 6 Alex Carey, 7 Aaron Hardie, 8 Xavier Bartlett, 9 Nathan Ellis, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Brevis is set to make his ODI debut after a starring role in the T20Is. Kwena Maphaka has been added to the one-day squad after his success but may not make the XI with tall left-armer Nandre Burger available. Bavuma confirmed he would bat at No. 3.
South Africa (possible): 1 Aiden Markram, 2 Ryan Rickelton, 3 Temba Bavuma (capt), 4 Matthew Breetzke, 5 Dewald Brevis, 6 Tristan Stubbs, 7 Wiaan Mulder, 8 Keshav Maharaj, 9 Kagiso Rabada, 10 Nandre Burger, 11 Lungi Ngidi
Pitch and conditions
Conditions were good for batting in the deciding T20I although there were occasional signs of the ball holding in the surface and slower deliveries from the quicks gripped. Dew will be a factor for the bowling side in the second innings although Aiden Markram said he would have batted first on Saturday. When Australia played New Zealand in three matches in Cairns in 2022 there was help for the bowlers with the highest total across six innings being 267. There won't be any concerns with the weather.
Stats and trivia
- The 2022 series between Australia and New Zealand in Cairns were the first ODIs at venue in 19 years.
- Green's highest ODI score of 89 not out came on this ground in that New Zealand series. Since that innings he has averaged 42.72 in ODIs
- Marsh has won the toss 20 times as captain across T20Is and ODIs - choosing to bowl on every occasion
- If Bavuma and Maharaj play two matches in this series they will reach 50 ODIs
Quotes
"Getting ready to spend three-and-a-half hours in the field will be a little bit different for a few of the boys. But as a group and as a whole, nothing really changes. [There's a] bit of a mindset change, it's obviously different format. But the same stuff rolls on."
Mitchell Marsh
Mitchell Marsh
"It's always exciting when you see the young faces. Obviously the big talk has been on Brevis…excited to see what he can also bring within the one-day stuff."
Temba Bavuma
Temba Bavuma
Andrew McGlashan is a deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo