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Cape Town: Australia will be aiming to beat South Africa for the first time on foreign soil in a Twenty20 international in the first of two matches starting Thursday night (Friday morning as per AEDT).
The Australians have lost all three clashes against the Proteas on their home turf, but they have never played them in the shortest format at Cape Town - the venue of their T20 opener.
More history is against Cameron White's men as Australia have failed to win at Newlands in a one-day international since 2000, losing their past three 50-over contests to South Africa in Cape Town by margins of 66, 197 and 26 runs.
On recent form, too, the Australians have work to do, as they were routed 2-0 in their T20 series in Sri Lanka in August before overturning the results in the ODI and Test series on the sub-continent.
Australia have also lost seven of their past eight games in T20s, however they have their best chance to play themselves into form in the two-match series as the Proteas have not featured in any international match since March.
Included in the tourists' squad are potential debutant Patrick Cummins, with the teenager likely to flaunt his pace in the absence of fellow New South Welshman Brett Lee.
With Cummins and fellow youngster James Pattinson among the pace stocks, a lot of responsibility will fall the way of veteran Doug Bollinger to lead the charge in the batsman-friendly format.
Australia will be boosted by the stunning form of power opener David Warner in the recent Champions League T20 tournament in India, as he averaged 109.33 over five matches for NSW courtesy of back-to-back unbeaten centuries.
His opening partner Shane Watson struggled at the same tournament, managing just 75 runs in five innings - but expect the two-time reigning Allan Border Medallist to return fire in South Africa.
For the Proteas, Hashim Amla will captain his nation for the first time due to AB de Villiers' absence to injury.
Stars Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn are being rested from the T20s as South Africa look ahead to upcoming ODI and Test matches, putting more responsibility on the likes of Amla, Graeme Smith and JP Duminy.
De Villiers' exclusion from the squad means Heino Kuhn will keep wicket for South Africa, having just three T20 internationals to his name - two of which were against lowly Zimbabwe.
He will be the most experienced keeper on Friday, however, as Victorian Matthew Wade will don the gloves for Australia for the first time as he aims to make the role his own following Brad Haddin's retirement from the format in September.
The injury to AB de Villiers means Heino Kuhn will take the gloves, while Albie Morkel is also missing from the original squad due to injury. Wayne Parnell will struggle to make the final XI, while Ryan McLaren and Richard Levi are also in danger of missing out.
The absence of Brett Lee due to his bout of appendicitis guarantees a debut for Cummins. On a pitch that could offer some turn, Steve O'Keefe and Steven Smith are both likely to play. Aaron Finch is the extra batsman in the squad, but he will struggle to oust Shaun Marsh or David Hussey.
Teams from
South Africa HM Amla (capt), J Botha, JP Duminy, CA Ingram, HG Kuhn (wk), RE Levi, R McLaren, DA Miller, M Morkel, WD Parnell, RJ Peterson, GC Smith, J Theron, LL Tsotsobe
Australia CL White (capt), SR Watson, DE Bollinger, PJ Cummins, AJ Finch, DJ Hussey, B Lee, MR Marsh, SE Marsh, SNJ O'Keefe, JL Pattinson, SPD Smith, MS Wade (wk), DA Warner
Pitch and conditions
An early-season pitch at Newlands should be a touch on the slow side, so the spinners are likely to play an important role. The weather is expected to be fine and warm.
Stats and trivia
Match facts
Thursday October 13, 2011 (day/night)
Start time 1800 local (1600 GMT)
