Kwena Maphaka is part of the South African team for the three-match ODI series against Australia starting on Tuesday.
Maphaka got into the 17-man ODI squad after he did well in the T20I series against Australia. The left-arm bowler took 9 wickets and was the top wicket-taker in the series. He had a 4-wicket haul according to the ICC. The 19-year-old might get more than his two ODI games in the series against Australia which starts in Cairns on Tuesday.
Batter Dewald Brevis is also likely to make his ODI debut after doing well in the T20 series which Australia won 2-1. Brevis scored 180 runs in the three matches (one hundred and one fifty) at an average of 90 and a strike rate of over 200. South Africa’s captain Temba Bavuma said he was impressed with the 22-year-old’s performance. Maphaka’s last ODI was in December and he might add to his two one-day appearances.
Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said he is looking forward to see how Brevis does in the one-day format. It’s always great to see new, young players come in. Everyone is talking about Brevis and he’s showing what he can do. I’m looking forward to see what he can bring to the one-day games, he said.
Bavuma is one of five players joining the ODI squad. The others are experienced spinner Keshav Maharaj, all-rounder Wiaan Mulder, top-order batters Matthew Breetzke and Tony de Zorzi.
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Bavuma is back in cricket after leading South Africa to victory in the World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia in June where he injured his hamstring. He said he feels good and will bat at No 3 in the ODI opener after openers Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton.
Australia have brought back experienced batter Marnus Labuschagne after he was left out of the recent Test series against the West Indies. Mitch Marsh is filling in for regular captain Pat Cummins who is not playing. Marsh helped Australia win the T20I series against South Africa 2-1 and hopes to do the same in the 50-over matches.It will be three and a half hours of cricket for some of the guys, Marsh said. But as a team, nothing changes. We just need to adjust our mindset a bit because it’s a different format. But we’ll keep doing what we’ve been doing.
First game is in Cairns on Tuesday and the last two in Mackay.
Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Adam Zampa
South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen.
