South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI: Teams, Injury Updates, Schedule and Head-to-Head Record

But South Africa is suffering from multiple injuries. Its four fast bowlers, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneel Bartman, and Kwena Mphaka, will miss the series owing to injuries. Hence, it will be crucial for the South African side that Gerald Coetzee plays well. He might play the ODI format after a very long time. The right-arm paceman has been out of the squad for a long time now.

SA have won each of their last five ODI series against Australia!

Predictions for this one? #SAvAUS pic.twitter.com/Gm3t9Ifz2k — Cricbuzz (@cricbuzz) September 23, 2026

On the other hand, the batting of the Australian team is performing well. Three different batsmen scored centuries in the previous series against Zimbabwe. But the form of Alex Carey has been a point of worry. He hasn't been able to score a single half-century in his last 11 ODI innings. Pat Cummins will be rested from the first ODI. He can be captained by Mitchell Marsh. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are also likely to play.

So far, 113 ODI matches have been played between Australia and South Africa. South Africa has the upper hand in these matches. South Africa has won 57 of the ODI matches against Australia, while losing 52. In addition, three matches played between the two teams have ended in a tie and one match ended in a no-result.

Meanwhile, South Africa has performed exceptionally well in the last five ODI bilateral series against Australia. In 2016, South Africa defeated Australia 5-0. Subsequently, in 2018, South Africa won the series 2-1. In 2020, South Africa once again recorded a resounding 3-0 victory. In the thrilling 2023 series, South Africa won 3-2. Furthermore, South Africa also won the final series in 2025 2-1.

Team South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Temba Bavuma (captain), Aiden Markram, Tony de Giorgi, Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Nkobani Mokoena, Corbin Bosch, Bjorn Fortuin, Ryan Rickelton, Duane Jensen, Lizad Williams.

Team Australia: Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Xavier Bartlett, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Joel Davies, Oliver Peake.