Six Test matches, two Pro20 series, and five one-day internationals — spanning more than four months — the contest between South Africa and Australia will wrap up with the 5-match ODI series in SA — Rob Peters previews all the action.

It has been a hell of a summer for the South African and Australian cricketers. Back-to-back series have seen the two cricket superpowers emerge as near equals to date, with only the ODI series win in Oz currently separating the Proteas from the Aussies.

With three Tests and two Pro20s a-piece, the action has been exhilarating. SA seem to have pulled ahead ever so slightly over the last two weeks, but little can be taken from the quick-fire Pro20 series to be honest as both sides looked to give all their players an opportunity ahead of the Pro20 World Cup in England in June.

A number of the players that took part — for both teams — will get limited time during the ODI series, while some will get none.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting is certainly not worried about the South Africans carrying momentum into the series despite their victories in the final Test and then the Pro20 series.

"I've been on the record for a number of years saying I don't really take much from series to series as far as momentum goes," Ponting told AAP. "Quite often you've got a vast changeover of personnel from each team.

"I'd be surprised if the South Africans go into the first one-day game with the same team. Sure you want to win every game that you play and you give your absolute best to win every game that you play. But as far as any of this carrying over to Friday, I'd be surprised if they are even talking that way about it."

Ponting does have a point, but in my mind South Africa will still go into the series the more confident of the two teams on the back of their ODI series win in Australia. And the Proteas may have lost the Test series in South Africa, but winning the final Test at Newlands by an innings, and then following it up with the Pro20 series win, will certainly not do their confidence any harm either.

The South Africans also look the more settled — and better balanced — team with a strong batting line-up and a bowling attack full of pace, guile and finally spin. Stand-in skipper and first-choice spinner, John Botha, has been superb all summer and in him the Proteas have finally found a spin bowler capable of taking wickets and changing the course of the game when their seamers are not able to do the job.

The Australians, on the other hand, look to be a team very much in the rebuilding phase. The explosive David Warner seems to have come and gone, while a top-class spinner has yet to be found since the retirement of Shane Warne. Mitchell Johnson will be leaned on to carry the attack — much as he did in the Test series — but he will at least be able to depend on the experience of Nathan Bracken.

But retirements have hit this Australian team hard — harder even than it did their Test team.

The Proteas go into the series with the number one ranking, and as favourites, something that has seldom helped them. Graeme Smith — if he plays — will need to make sure his troops do not give an inch from the start of the series in Durban on Friday.

The Australians will be hungry to repeat their Test heroics and turn things around in the one-day arena, however, and the ‘re-building’ line was hauled out ahead of the Tests as well… we all know how that turned out!

The captains:

Graeme Smith / Johan Botha: Graeme Smith is expected to return to lead the side, but regardless of whether the big left-hander does or not, the Proteas can turn to a captain full of confidence and ability. The soft-spoken Botha has been a revelation this summer — both in his bowling and his leadership. Some would argue that the best way forward would be to keep him in charge. Smith will be keen to get stuck into the Australians, meanwhile, as he looks to put a poor Test series behind him.

Ricky Ponting: The Australian skipper has blown hot and cold all summer, but he has shown more than once that he can still dismantle an attack when on-song. The Australians go into this series as the number two team in the world — and recent results prove that to be a fair reflection — and Ponting will be desperate to stop his side’s rot in the one-day format. Expect him to fire.

Players to watch:

For South Africa:

Wayne Parnell: The young left-arm seamer is highly-regarded by the Proteas selectors, which is why he has become the youngest player to be awarded a national contract. He showed his potential in the first Pro20 against the Australians and will be keen to get an opportunity to convert that into success in the 50-over format. And did we mention he is a left-arm seamer? His inclusion will certainly add another dimension to a South African attack that has often been too reliant on right-armers to shoulder the load…

For Australia:

Callum Ferguson: The stylish right-handed batsman is a big prospect in Australia and they will be looking for him to shore up their middle order. After making his debut against New Zealand earlier this year, Ferguson will be keen to build on his international start. And after averaging 102 — top-scoring with an unbeaten 55 — against the Kiwis there is no reason why he can’t.

Prediction: Australia are in a re-building phase at the moment and while they wore the same tag going into the Test series, momentum is on the side of the South Africans in the ODI arena. It will be tight, but I expect the Proteas to take the series with a game to spare.

ODI Fixtures:

  • 3 South Africa vs Australia ODI Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban 2.30pm
  • 5 South Africa vs Australia ODI SuperSport Park, Centurion 10am
  • 9 South Africa vs Australia ODI Sahara Park Newlands, Cape Town 2.30pm
  • 13 South Africa vs Australia ODI Sahara Oval St. George's, Port Elizabeth 10am
  • 17 South Africa vs Australia ODI Liberty Life Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg 2.30pm


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