South Africa Take on Hard-hitting No. 1 Australia

Harare: South Africa will look to extract an advantage from their superior spin stocks when they take on a hard-hitting Australian side in the second match of a triangular series in Harare on Wednesday.

No. 1-ranked Australia issued a statement of intent on Monday when they crushed Zimbabwe by 198 runs in the series opener, exhibiting a greater degree of ruthlessness than South Africa did in winning a three-match one-day series against the hosts in Bulawayo last week.

Australia showed Zimbabwe no respect in hammering 147 runs in the final 10 overs to rack up 350 for six on a slow wicket, proving that their big-hitting middle order can be particularly difficult to contain. However with the dry, late winter pitches in Harare suiting the spinners more than the fast bowlers, the Proteas could have an advantage.

Legspinner Imran Tahir and left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso both picked up regular wickets against Zimbabwe while conceding less than four runs per over, and also have the support of JP Duminy, whose offspin has become a regular feature for the Proteas.

By contrast, Australia brought just one specialist spinner in Nathan Lyon, and although he picked up a couple of wickets on Monday, he was also hit for 42 runs in seven overs by a struggling Zimbabwean line-up.

However, fast bowlers Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel have returned to the South African squad after they were rested for the bilateral series against Zimbabwe, setting up the tantalising spectacle of the world's two fastest bowling attacks going head-to-head.

With Michael Clarke set to sit out the game as he awaits a full recovery from a hamstring injury, George Bailey will continue to lead the side in his absence.

One of the Australians who found form on Monday was Mitchell Marsh, who was entrusted with the No. 3 berth and paced his innings perfectly to score 89 from 83 deliveries. The allrounder also picked up 1 for 15 in five overs, and believes Australia's seamers have adapted to the conditions sufficiently to make up for any deficiency they may have in the spin department.

Teams from

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (Caot,), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Wayne Parnell, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir, Aaron Phangiso, Mthokozisi Shezi, Kyle Abbott, Rilee Rossouw

Australia: Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), George Bailey (Caot,), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Kane Richardson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Phillip Hughes, Ben Cutting, Michael Clarke

Stats and trivia

• Australia and South Africa have been involved in six tri-series together of which Australia have won four and South Africa only one.
• The head-to-head record between Australia and South Africa is much closer than what both teams have against Zimbabwe. Of the 80 ODIs played between the two teams, Australia have won 41 and South Africa 36.

Match facts
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Start time 0930 local (0730 GMT)