Cummins expected to miss the Kingsmead opener as Australia manage their Test quicks

Australia are expected to open the one-day series in Durban without their captain as three frontline quicks have their workloads protected before the Tests

South Africa and Australia begin a three-match one-day series at Kingsmead in Durban on Thursday, three internationals in seven days before the two sides turn to a Test series carrying World Test Championship points.

Pat Cummins was named to captain Australia for the South African leg of the tour after sitting out the matches in Zimbabwe, but ESPNcricinfo has reported that he is likely to miss the opener as Australia manage the workloads of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood. Vice-captain Mitchell Marsh, who led the side to a 3-0 win in Zimbabwe, is expected to lead in his place.

South Africa, captained by Temba Bavuma, are missing frontline bowlers of their own. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman are all out with hamstring injuries and Nandre Burger has a back complaint, while Aiden Markram misses the Durban match for personal reasons and joins the squad for the second and third ODIs.

A captain with one eye on the Tests

Cummins was candid about the balance of the tour when he spoke in Mackay last month, after Australia's Test series against Bangladesh. "I'm not sure I should say this, but the focus is the Test series," he said.

He put his own white-ball load at "one, two or maximum three games out of those six", counting both legs of the tour, and said the one-day matches would be approached "with an eye to the red ball". He did not play in Zimbabwe.

The three-Test series against South Africa begins in October, and Australia are not expected to run their senior quicks through all three one-day matches first.

South Africa's pace stocks thinned by injury

Rabada, who is working to be fit for the Tests, was the first to go. Baartman was ruled out on 12 September and replaced by Duan Jansen; Ngidi followed on 18 September, with Nqobani Mokoena called up.

"His absence creates an opportunity for other players to step up," Proteas head coach Shukri Conrad said of Rabada when the squad was announced.

Coetzee back for the first time since 2023

The recall that drew most attention was Gerald Coetzee, who has not played a one-day international since the 2023 World Cup and returns to a depleted attack rather than a settled one.

"It's great to see Gerald back in the fold and, by all accounts, he's been bowling nice and quick," Conrad said.

Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka carry the rest of the seam attack, with Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin the specialist spinners.

Australia arrive on a winning run

Australia have won four one-day internationals in a row, scoring at more than 5.4 runs an over in each of them, having lost four of their previous five bilateral series.

They travelled without Marnus Labuschagne, left out of the World Cup holders' 50-over plans, and lost two quicks before the series: Billy Stanlake went home with a side injury and Spencer Johnson to manage his workload, Jack Edwards replacing them.

"This six-game series is an important lead-in to next year's World Cup, being played in the same countries, for the group," selection chief George Bailey said when the squads were named.

A ground that has favoured the hosts

South Africa have won seven of their last eight men's one-day internationals at Kingsmead, and hold the longer record too: they lead the all-time head-to-head 57-52 with three ties, and have won the last five bilateral series between the sides.

Australia's most recent one-day series win over South Africa came in November 2014.

"It's exciting to start our home summer against Australia in what will no doubt be a competitive series," Conrad said. "With the World Cup just over a year away, this series marks an important step in shaping the squad as we build towards the tournament."

The series moves to the Wanderers in Johannesburg on 27 September and ends at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on 30 September.

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