Australian cricket team in South Africa in 2023

The Australia men's cricket team toured South Africa in August and September 2023 to play five One Day Internationals (ODI) and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20I) matches.[1][2] The ODI matches formed part of both teams' preparations for the 2023 ICC Men's Cricket World Cup (which Australia won).[3]

Australia men's cricket team in South Africa in 2023
 
  South Africa Australia
Dates 30 August 2023 – 17 September 2023
Captains Temba Bavuma (ODIs)[n 1]
Aiden Markram (T20Is)
Mitchell Marsh
One Day International series
Results South Africa won the 5-match series 3–2
Most runs Heinrich Klaasen (243) Marnus Labuschagne (283)
Most wickets Marco Jansen (8)
Keshav Maharaj (8)
Adam Zampa (8)
Player of the series Aiden Markram (SA)
Twenty20 International series
Results Australia won the 3-match series 3–0
Most runs Reeza Hendricks (101) Mitchell Marsh (186)
Most wickets Lizaad Williams (4) Sean Abbott (8)
Player of the series Mitchell Marsh (Aus)

Originally, the tour was scheduled to take place in March 2021,[4][5] and three Test matches were slated to be played.[6] Those matches would have formed part of the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship tournament.[7] However, that tour was postponed in February 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]

Background

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In December 2020, South Africa's One Day International (ODI) series against England was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9] As a result, both cricket boards were looking at contingency plans for the Test series, including the possibility of playing the matches in Perth or the United Arab Emirates.[10] An initial provisional start date for the tour of 18 February 2021 meant a tight turnaround from the end of South Africa's tour of Pakistan,[11] although an update in January suggested the tour would begin in March 2021.[12]

On 27 January 2021, Cricket Australia (CA) named their squad for the tour, ahead of any confirmation of the dates of the fixtures.[13][14] However, on 2 February 2021, Cricket Australia announced that the tour had been postponed due to the pandemic.[15] As a result of the tour being postponed, New Zealand qualified for the final of the 2019–2021 ICC World Test Championship.[16] In October 2021, Cricket Australia said that they were looking at a window in 2023 to play the white-ball matches.[17]

Squads

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  South Africa   Australia
ODIs[18] T20Is[19] ODIs[20] T20Is[21]

On 18 August 2023, Australia's Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc were ruled out of tour due to injuries.[22] Ashton Turner replaced Smith in the T20I squad, whereas Marnus Labuschagne and Spencer Johnson replaced Smith and Starc respectively in the ODI squad.[23] On the same day, Mitchell Marsh replaced Pat Cummins as Australia's ODI captain for the tour,[24] with Cummins' participation in doubt as he was returning from a wrist injury.[25] Initially, Glenn Maxwell was set to miss the ODI series to return home for the birth of his first child.[26] However, he was also ruled out of the T20I series due to an injury and was replaced by Matthew Wade in the Australia's T20I squad.[27] [28] On the day of first T20I, Tanveer Sangha was added to Australia's T20I Squad, after Adam Zampa couldn't play due to illness.[29] On 31 August 2023, Tim David was added to Australia's ODI squad.[30] On 10 September 2023, Michael Neser was added to Australia's ODI squad. [31]

T20I series

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1st T20I

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30 August 2023
18:00 (N)
Scorecard
Australia  
226/6 (20 overs)
v
  South Africa
115 (15.3 overs)
Mitchell Marsh 92* (49)
Lizaad Williams 3/44 (4 overs)
Reeza Hendricks 56 (43)
Tanveer Sangha 4/31 (4 overs)
Australia won by 111 runs
Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban
Umpires: Lubabalo Gcuma (SA) and Bongani Jele (SA)
Player of the match: Mitchell Marsh (Aus)

2nd T20I

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1 September 2023
18:00 (N)
Scorecard
South Africa  
164/8 (20 overs)
v
  Australia
165/2 (14.5 overs)
Aiden Markram 49 (39)
Sean Abbott 3/22 (4 overs)
Mitchell Marsh 76* (39)
Lizaad Williams 1/17 (2 overs)
Australia won by 8 wickets
Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban
Umpires: Stephen Harris (SA) and Allahudien Paleker (SA)
Player of the match: Sean Abbott (Aus)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to field.

3rd T20I

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3 September 2023
14:00
Scorecard
South Africa  
190/8 (20 overs)
v
  Australia
191/5 (17.5 overs)
Donovan Ferreira 48 (21)
Sean Abbott 4/31 (4 overs)
Travis Head 91 (48)
Bjorn Fortuin 2/36 (4 overs)
Australia won by 5 wickets
Kingsmead Cricket Ground, Durban
Umpires: Bongani Jele (SA) and Allahudien Paleker (SA)
Player of the match: Travis Head (Aus)

ODI series

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1st ODI

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7 September 2023
13:00 (D/N)
Scorecard
South Africa  
222 (49 overs)
v
  Australia
225/7 (40.2 overs)
Temba Bavuma 114* (142)
Josh Hazlewood 3/41 (10 overs)
Marnus Labuschagne 80* (93)
Kagiso Rabada 2/38 (8 overs)
Australia won by 3 wickets
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (Eng) and Allahudien Paleker (SA)
Player of the match: Marnus Labuschagne (Aus)

2nd ODI

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9 September 2023
13:00 (D/N)
Scorecard
Australia  
392/8 (50 overs)
v
  South Africa
269 (41.5 overs)
Marnus Labuschagne 124 (99)
Tabraiz Shamsi 4/61 (10 overs)
Heinrich Klaasen 49 (36)
Adam Zampa 4/48 (9 overs)
Australia won by 123 runs
Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein
Umpires: Bongani Jele (SA) and Nitin Menon (Ind)
Player of the match: Marnus Labuschagne (Aus)
  • South Africa won the toss and elected to field.
  • Tim David and Aaron Hardie (Aus) both made their ODI debuts.
  • David Warner scored his 46th international century, the most by any opener.[34]

3rd ODI

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12 September 2023
13:00 (D/N)
Scorecard
South Africa  
338/6 (50 overs)
v
  Australia
227 (34.3 overs)
Aiden Markram 102* (74)
Travis Head 2/39 (10 overs)
David Warner 78 (56)
Gerald Coetzee 4/50 (6.3 overs)
South Africa won by 111 runs
JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
Umpires: Bongani Jele (SA) and Richard Kettleborough (Eng)
Player of the match: Aiden Markram (SA)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to field.
  • Tanveer Sangha (Aus) made his ODI debut.

4th ODI

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15 September 2023
13:00 (D/N)
Scorecard
South Africa  
416/5 (50 overs)
v
  Australia
252 (34.5 overs)
Heinrich Klaasen 174 (83)
Josh Hazlewood 2/79 (10 overs)
Alex Carey 99 (77)
Lungi Ngidi 4/51 (8 overs)
South Africa won by 164 runs
Centurion Park, Centurion
Umpires: Nitin Menon (Ind) and Allahudien Paleker (SA)
Player of the match: Heinrich Klaasen (SA)

5th ODI

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17 September 2023
10:00
Scorecard
South Africa  
315/9 (50 overs)
v
  Australia
193 (34.1 overs)
Aiden Markram 93 (87)
Adam Zampa 3/71 (10 overs)
Mitchell Marsh 71 (56)
Marco Jansen 5/39 (8 overs)
South Africa won by 122 runs
Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (Eng) and Allahudien Paleker (SA)
Player of the match: Marco Jansen (SA)

Notes

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  1. ^ Aiden Markram captained South Africa in the 4th ODI.

References

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  1. ^ "South Africa-Australia postponed Tests replaced by white-ball matches in 2023". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  2. ^ "Australia's cricket schedule is INSANE as epic journey is revealed". Fox Sports. 10 May 2022. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
  3. ^ "Proteas to host Australia in white-ball action". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  4. ^ "Bumper 2020/2021 international season ahead for the Proteas men". Cricket South Africa. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Sri Lanka set to play two-Test series in South Africa". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 October 2020.
  6. ^ "Graeme Smith: South Africa to host Australia, England tours in 2023". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  7. ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  8. ^ "Australia call off South Africa tour because of 'unacceptable' Covid-19 risk". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  9. ^ "South Africa v England: ODI series called off after Covid-19 tests". BBC Sport. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  10. ^ "Australia's tour of South Africa may move to Perth amid Covid-19 fallout". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  11. ^ "Mark Boucher: 'Emphasis' on Australia Tests as South Africa to send 'watered-down' T20I team to Pakistan". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2021.
  12. ^ "'Australia's tour at this stage is going ahead' - CSA's acting CEO". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  13. ^ "Matthew Wade dropped from Test squad, Travis Head set to reclaim middle-order spot". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Wade dropped, uncapped quintet picked for SA tour". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  15. ^ "Australia's tour of South Africa postponed amid pandemic". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  16. ^ "New Zealand qualify for WTC final after Australia-South Africa postponement". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  17. ^ "Australia looking at 2023 window for postponed South Africa Test series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 October 2021.
  18. ^ "South Africa call up Dewald Brevis for Australia series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  19. ^ "Rising star earns maiden call-up as South Africa name squads for white-ball series against Australia". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  20. ^ "Marsh to lead Aussie T20I squad in South Africa". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Mitchell Marsh named Australia's T20 captain for South Africa; uncapped trio earn call-ups". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Smith, Starc ruled out of South Africa tour". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Mitchell Marsh to captain Australia for white-ball tour of South Africa". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  24. ^ "Smith ruled out of South Africa tour due to wrist injury". ESPNcricinfo. 18 August 2023. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  25. ^ "Wrist injury no worry for Cummins' Cup hopes". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 18 August 2023.
  26. ^ "Maxwell ruled out of SA T20s as Wade returns". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  27. ^ "Wade replaces injured Maxwell for South Africa T20Is". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 28 August 2023.
  28. ^ "Johnson, Hardie and Short confirmed for T20I debuts against South Africa". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  29. ^ "Sangha rushed in for debut as Australia bat first". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Tim David handed 50-over chance with ODI call-up". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 31 August 2023.
  31. ^ "Neser added to Australia's ODI squad in South Africa". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  32. ^ "Records for Australia in T20I matches". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  33. ^ "Marnus Labuschagne called in as Cameron Green's concussion sub". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
  34. ^ Sanfui, Arti (9 September 2023). "David Warner overtakes Sachin Tendulkar to claim international opening centuries record". Wisden. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  35. ^ "Records for ODI Matches". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
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