22-Jan-2009 13:36:00 GMT
Southafrica in Australia, 2008/093rd ODI Australia v South Africa at SCG, January 23, 2009
Sydney: The opening two ODIs between Aussies and Africa should have assuaged their fears. Both contests came down to the final over with either side still capable of victory. In first ODI, South Africa got home in their chase but in second, Ben Hilfenhaus delivered a steady last over that won the match for Australia. It means the series is now locked at 1-1 and Friday's match at the SCG will put one team within a win of taking the trophy.
Australia will take in a more experienced attack than in their Hobart victory, where Hilfenhaus and the debutant Ryan Harris performed solidly. Both men have been left out of the side for the SCG, where Mitchell Johnson will return after a break and Shaun Tait should also play having been rested at Bellerive Oval.
South Africa entered the series planning to rotate their fast bowlers and Dale Steyn is the only one of the Test attack not to have had a rest.
Mitchell Johnson returns to the squad having rested for the two Twenty20s and the first two ODIs. Australia's best bowler over the past few months, Johnson adds venom to an attack already featuring the dangerous Tait and the world's No. 1 one-day seamer Nathan Bracken.
Hashim Amla has promised much on this tour without really delivering. Three half-centuries in the Test series showed his class but he had a habit of getting out when well set.
Highlights of the match
|
Australia |
South Africa |
| Coach |
Mickey Arthur |
Tim Nielsen |
| ICC Ranking |
1 |
2 |
| Key Players |
Ricky Ponting, Shaun Marsh, Shaun Tait, Johnson |
Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Albie Morkel |
| Drawing Broad |
Australia's poor record against South Africa at the MCG is almost reversed at the SCG, where the home team has won the past four encounters between the two sides. |
Jacques Kallis will fly home 12 runs short of 10,000 in Tests but he should reach the mark in ODIs this series. Kallis needs 16 more to become the first South African to score 10,000 one-day international runs. |
| Weather |
The weather could be a slight concern, with the chance of showers or thunderstorms. |
| Pitch |
The SCG pitch was the subject of vigorous debate during the Test match, when its cracks resembled earthquake-inducing fault-lines. However, the game lasted until the final few minutes on the fifth day, so batting was clearly not too difficult and Sydney is usually a venue where runs can be scored relatively freely. |
| Current Form |
WWWLW |
WWWWL(Recent last) |
| Head to head |
Total 69, Australia 37, South Africa 29, Tied 3 |
