South Africa vs Australia begins a three-match ODI series on September 24, but the first match in Durban has a storyline that goes well beyond the usual rivalry.
Australia are bringing Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc back into their ODI attack.
South Africa, meanwhile, have lost several frontline fast bowlers.
Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman are unavailable with hamstring injuries, while Nandre Burger is dealing with a back problem.
That immediately changes the balance of the opening match.
Australia can call on two of their most experienced fast bowlers as they build toward the 2027 ODI World Cup.
South Africa have to reshape their pace attack.
And that creates a fascinating question before the first ball at Kingsmead:
How will the Proteas replace the experience they have lost?
The answer could involve the return of Gerald Coetzee, opportunities for Duan Jansen and Nqobani Mokoena, and a greater workload for established all-rounders such as Marco Jansen.
At the other end of the contest, Australia have their own selection questions.
Pat Cummins has played only two of Australia’s previous 31 ODIs, while Starc is returning after being rested during Australia’s 3-0 ODI series against Zimbabwe.
So the first ODI is also an opportunity for Australia’s experienced attack to reconnect with the 50-over format.
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Table of Contents
South Africa’s Pace Attack Has Been Forced to Change
South Africa originally selected a 16-player ODI squad that included Rabada, Ngidi and Baartman.
The current group looks different.
Rabada is unavailable through injury.
Ngidi is also out.
Baartman has joined them on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
Burger has a back complaint.
That removes several established pace options from a series against Australia.
Cricket South Africa has therefore had to look deeper into its bowling group.
Gerald Coetzee is back.
Duan Jansen has an opportunity.
Nqobani Mokoena is another young fast bowler whose involvement could become one of the stories of the series.
Marco Jansen also becomes an even more important part of the attack because of his ability to contribute with both bat and ball.
The key point is that South Africa are not simply missing one bowler.
They are having to rethink the balance of the entire pace group.
Gerald Coetzee Returns to ODI Cricket
Gerald Coetzee is arguably the most obvious individual story within South Africa’s bowling changes.
The 25-year-old last played an ODI during the 2023 Cricket World Cup in India.
His return gives South Africa an experienced international option at exactly the moment the team needs more pace depth.
Cricket South Africa originally highlighted his return as an opportunity after Rabada’s absence, noting that Coetzee had been bowling with good pace.
But there is an important distinction.
Coetzee does not have to be described as Rabada’s direct replacement.
His role could be different.
He may be asked to attack with the new ball, operate through the middle overs or provide a strike option when South Africa need wickets.
His first ODI in almost three years therefore becomes a significant part of the Kingsmead story.
Nqobani Mokoena Gets a Bigger Opportunity
Nqobani Mokoena is another player whose role has become more important because of the injuries.
The 20-year-old made his ODI debut against Namibia less than two weeks before this series.
Now he is part of a South African attack preparing to face Australia.
That is a major jump in opposition quality.
Mokoena’s opportunity is therefore worth following independently of the result.
Can he maintain his pace and control against Australia’s top order?
Can he make use of any movement available at Kingsmead?
And how does he respond if Australia attack him early?
Those are the questions that make his selection interesting.
Duan Jansen Adds Another Layer
Duan Jansen is also among the players who benefit from the changes to South Africa’s pace group.
He is Marco Jansen’s twin brother and is now in the ODI squad as South Africa look for additional bowling depth.
The brothers give the Proteas another interesting selection possibility, although there is no guarantee that both will start.
The final team sheet will determine whether South Africa use multiple seam-bowling all-rounders or prefer a more specialized attack.
Australia Bring Back Cummins and Starc
Australia’s situation is almost the opposite.
Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc return to the ODI setup after both were rested during the 3-0 series win over Zimbabwe.
That is a significant development because Australia are already thinking about the next ODI World Cup.
Cummins remains Australia’s ODI captain and has played only two of the team’s previous 31 ODIs, largely because Test cricket has taken priority.
His return gives Australia another opportunity to build rhythm in the format before the 2027 World Cup.
Starc brings another layer of experience.
His left-arm pace creates a very different challenge for South Africa’s batters, especially during the opening overs.
The combination of Cummins and Starc therefore gives Australia a familiar high-level pace pairing just as South Africa are trying to rebuild theirs.
Matthew Breetzke vs Mitchell Starc
One of the most interesting individual matchups could involve South Africa’s young batter Matthew Breetzke.
Breetzke has made an extraordinary start to his ODI career.
According to Cricket Australia, his first five ODI innings produced scores of:
150, 83, 57, 88 and 85.
After 13 innings, he was averaging 59.16 with a strike rate close to 100.
That makes the opening overs particularly interesting.
Breetzke has shown that he can score quickly in the format.
Starc has spent much of his career trying to make life difficult for top-order batters with pace, movement and left-arm angle.
The question is not whether one player will “beat” the other.
It is whether Breetzke can maintain his extraordinary early ODI record when one of the world’s most experienced fast bowlers is operating at the other end.
That is a real cricket question.
Pat Cummins vs South Africa’s Top Order
Cummins creates another challenge for South Africa.
His return is important not only because of his reputation but because Australia are trying to get their captain back into regular ODI rhythm.
South Africa’s top order includes Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi and Matthew Breetzke.
The exact combination will depend on the final XI.
But whoever opens, Cummins will provide Australia with a bowler capable of testing both technique and decision-making.
South Africa’s response could tell us a lot about how their batting group approaches Australia’s returning attack.
What Changes for South Africa Without Rabada and Ngidi?
This is perhaps the biggest tactical question of the first ODI.
Rabada and Ngidi provide experience that cannot simply be transferred to another player.
Without them, South Africa may have to distribute their bowling responsibilities differently.
Marco Jansen could become even more important with the new ball.
Coetzee can provide pace and wicket-taking potential.
Maphaka offers another young fast-bowling option.
Duan Jansen and Mokoena provide additional depth.
That means the Proteas have options.
But options are not the same as an established combination.
The first ODI should therefore tell us how Conrad’s coaching staff want to construct the attack when several experienced quicks are unavailable.
South Africa’s Batting Still Has Plenty of Experience
The bowling injuries have dominated the discussion, but South Africa’s batting group remains strong.
Temba Bavuma returns to lead the side.
Quinton de Kock is included.
David Miller is available.
Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs and Matthew Breetzke provide further batting options.
Aiden Markram, however, will miss the first ODI for personal reasons and is expected to be available for the second and third matches.
That creates another selection adjustment for the Durban opener.
South Africa therefore enter the first game with changes at both ends of the team.
The bowling group has been affected by injuries.
The batting group is missing Markram for the opening match.
That makes the first XI particularly interesting.
Australia’s Squad Has Changed Too
Australia are not entering the series with an entirely unchanged group.
Jack Edwards has been added to the ODI squad after Spencer Johnson and Billy Stanlake returned home from the Zimbabwe leg.
Edwards provides another pace-bowling option and could make his ODI debut if selected.
Joel Davies is another uncapped player in the Australian squad who could be in contention for a first ODI appearance.
That means Australia also have an opportunity to examine some new depth while bringing back Cummins and Starc.
The contrast is useful.
Australia can mix established stars with emerging options.
South Africa are doing something similar, but with more pressure created by injuries to frontline fast bowlers.
Why Kingsmead Matters
The first ODI will be played at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.
The venue has a long history of producing conditions where pace can play an important role.
Cricket Australia notes that pace has generally been the preferred route at the venues on this South African ODI tour, although spin can still be economical.
That makes the fast-bowling storyline particularly relevant.
South Africa are losing several experienced quicks.
Australia are restoring two of their biggest names.
And both teams have young fast-bowling options waiting for opportunities.
The conditions therefore add another layer to the selection debate.
The Bigger 2027 World Cup Picture
The series is also being played with the next ODI World Cup in mind.
South Africa will host the 2027 World Cup alongside Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Australia are also looking ahead to the tournament.
That gives these three ODIs a developmental purpose beyond the immediate series result.
For Australia, Cummins needs ODI time.
For South Africa, the injuries create an opportunity to test their bowling depth.
For players such as Coetzee, Mokoena and Jansen, the series can provide valuable evidence about their place in the wider ODI group.
For Breetzke, it is another opportunity to build on an extraordinary beginning to his international career.
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The story should continue when the official XI is announced.
Once the teams are confirmed, this page can be updated with the playing XI, toss result and any last-minute injury news.
During the match, the same article can carry the live score, wickets, major partnerships, bowling figures and key moments.
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South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI Match Details
Competition: Australia Tour of South Africa 2026
Match: South Africa vs Australia, 1st ODI
Date: Thursday, September 24, 2026
Time: 10:00 AM local time
India time: 1:30 PM IST
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Cricket South Africa confirms the first ODI for September 24 at 10:00 AM at Kingsmead.
The second ODI will be played in Johannesburg on September 27, followed by the third ODI at Potchefstroom on September 30.
What to Watch When the XI Is Announced
The official team sheets will answer several important questions.
Who opens for South Africa?
Breetzke is an obvious name to watch after his outstanding start to ODI cricket, but the final combination will reveal how South Africa balance their top order.
Does Gerald Coetzee return immediately?
His inclusion makes him one of the most obvious players to watch after missing almost three years of ODI cricket.
Who fills the remaining pace positions?
With Rabada, Ngidi and Baartman unavailable, South Africa have several options.
How does Australia use Cummins and Starc?
Their return does not automatically mean both will bowl identical roles.
Their workload and deployment could be part of Australia’s broader ODI preparation.
Which new player gets an opportunity?
Australia have Edwards and Davies among their emerging options, while South Africa have Mokoena and Duan Jansen.
The opening ODI could therefore reveal more about both teams’ depth than a standard preview suggests.
The Bigger Story: Two Different Pace Attacks
South Africa vs Australia begins with a striking contrast.
Australia are bringing back experience.
South Africa are being forced to discover depth.
Cummins and Starc return at a time when Rabada and Ngidi are unavailable.
Coetzee returns after a long ODI absence.
Mokoena and Duan Jansen get opportunities.
Breetzke arrives with an ODI record that has already attracted international attention.
That makes the first match about more than the scorecard.
It is also an early look at how both teams are building toward the next World Cup.
For South Africa, the immediate question is whether their reshaped attack can operate effectively without several established quicks.
For Australia, the question is how quickly their returning ODI leaders can settle back into the format.
And somewhere between those two stories is one of the most intriguing individual matchups of the opening day:
Matthew Breetzke against Mitchell Starc.
South Africa vs Australia FAQ
When is South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI?
The first ODI is scheduled for September 24, 2026.
What time is South Africa vs Australia?
The match begins at 10:00 AM local time in Durban, which is 1:30 PM IST.
Where is South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI being played?
The match will be played at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban.
Is Kagiso Rabada playing?
No. Rabada is unavailable for the ODI series because of injury.
Is Lungi Ngidi playing?
No. Ngidi is unavailable with a hamstring injury.
Is Ottneil Baartman available?
No. Baartman is also sidelined with a hamstring injury.
Is Gerald Coetzee back in South Africa’s ODI team?
Yes. Coetzee has been recalled after last playing an ODI at the 2023 Cricket World Cup.
Is Pat Cummins playing?
Cummins is included in Australia’s ODI squad and returns after being rested for the Zimbabwe ODI series.
Is Mitchell Starc playing?
Starc is also included in Australia’s ODI squad after being rested during the Zimbabwe series.
Who is Matthew Breetzke?
Breetzke is a South African batter who has made a remarkable start to his ODI career, including scores of 150, 83, 57, 88 and 85 in his first five ODI innings.
Is Aiden Markram playing the first ODI?
No. Markram will miss the first ODI for personal reasons and is expected to be available for the second and third matches.
When are the other South Africa vs Australia ODIs?
The second ODI is on September 27 in Johannesburg, while the third ODI is on September 30 in Potchefstroom.
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