South Africa vs Australia, RSA vs AUS, Today Match Prediction 30 August 2023

RSA vs AUS Match Prediction & Analysis

The stage is set for a three-match T20I series between South Africa and Australia, commencing on August 30 at Durban. In light of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup in October-November, a number of key players from both squads will be taking a break. Australia have been further dented by injuries. Mitchell Marsh is slated to make his debut as captain for Australia, while Aiden Markram takes on the role of captain for South Africa. 

RECENT PERFORMANCE

RSA

AUS

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

South Africa’s recent T20I form hasn’t been great; they have lost four of the five matches they have played this year, including a series defeat at home against the West Indies. After that embarrassing exit from the T20 World Cup late last year, the Proteas have a lot to prove as they aim to redeem themselves and regain their lost stature.

Skipper Aiden Markram will be their main batter in the series. Markram has scored 229 runs in his last 10 matches at an average of 36.50 and a strike rate of 150. Another batter to watch out for is Reeza Hendricks. The aggressive T20 opener was in incredible form in the series against the West Indies at home, scoring 172 runs in 3 matches at a strike rate of 204.76.

Uncapped Dewald Brevis is an exciting addition to this squad. The 20-year-old has earned a reputation as a destructive T20 batter and already owns the highest individual T20 score in South Africa (162). We are expecting a quickfire knock from him in this match.

In the absence of the regular star bowlers, the onus will be on Lungi Ngidi to deliver. Despite his economy being on the higher side at 9.19, the fast bowler has managed to secure an impressive tally of 28 wickets in just 15 home T20Is.

Another bowler who can make a difference is left-arm wrist spinner Tabraiz Shamsi. He is South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is with 74 wickets at an economy of 7.28. The bounce from the Durban pitch should help Shamsi trouble the batters.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Temba Bavuma, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Dewald Brevis, Aiden Markram (C), Tristan Stubbs (WK), Marco Jansen, Sisanda Magala, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi.

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Gerald Coetzee, Reeza Hendricks, Lungi Ngidi, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Lizaad Williams, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, Dewald Brevis, Tabraiz Shamsi, Temba Bavuma

Australia Preview

Australia will be without many of their key players for the tour of South Africa. While Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, and Pat Cummins were ruled out due to injuries, star all-rounder Glen Maxwell, who was a part of the squad, will miss the series too due to an ankle injury he picked up during the team's first training session in Durban.

In Mitchell Marsh, however, Australia have a solid all-rounder who is expected to lead from the front. Marsh has clobbered 190 runs from his last 8 innings at an average of 23.75 and a strike rate of 135.71. He has played 18 T20Is against South Africa, scoring 464 runs in them and picking up 8 wickets.

They also have Marcus Stoinis in the middle order. The dangerous Stoinis is capable of changing the game single-handedly with his lusty blows, and has been in pretty good form of late, collecting 191 runs in his last 7 innings at an average of 38.20 and a strike rate of 173.63.

Also watch out for Tim David, the most feared finisher in world cricket at the moment. David has scored the most T20 runs in overs of 16 to 20 this year - 437 at a stunning strike rate of 189.17. 

While Australia’s batting still looks strong enough, their bowling, at least on paper, lacks bite. Adam Zampa, Australia's leading wicket-taker in T20Is with 82 scalps, will be the key bowler in this match and series. He bowls tight lines and is sure to not give away easy runs in the middle overs.

Matthew Short and Spencer Johnson, both uncapped, could earn their first international caps.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

Matthew Short, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (C), Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis (WK), Tim David, Sean Abbott, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Ellis, Spencer Johnson/Matthew Short, Adam Zampa.

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Timothy David, Nathan Ellis, Matthew Short, Aaron Hardie, Spencer Johnson, Mitchell Marsh, Marcus Stoinis, Josh Inglis, Travis Head, Sean Abbott, Tanveer Sangha

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at Durban is known to favor seam bowlers more. It offers plenty of sharp bounce and movement, and batters will need to be careful of their technique in the first few overs with the new ball. Once they settle in, they will be able to play their strokes. However, fast bowlers should get enough purchase here to keep troubling batters throughout the game. The new ball will move around a lot under the lights.

The weather in Durban will be breezy and clear.

RSA vs AUS Pitch Report

The average score batting first at Kingsmead in T20Is is just 133. The highest total posted here is 218/4 by India against England in the 2007 T20 World Cup. The average runs scored per over at this venue is 8.10. The team batting first should look to set a target of around 170 runs.

Toss: To Bowl

Eight out of the 15 T20Is played at Durban have been won by the team batting first. The surface here becomes tougher to bat on as the game progresses, so the toss-winning team is likely to bat first.