Returning Smith boosts South Africa

April 2, 2009

Match facts

April 3, 2009
Start time 2.30pm (12.30GMT)


Big Picture

It seems that every time these teams go head to head there's a No. 1 ranking up for grabs. Nothing has changed. South Africa took the top ODI spot thanks to their 4-1 victory in Australia in January but to retain their new status they need to stop Australia winning this five-game series. They will feel quietly confident with their star batsmen Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis set to return from injuries that kept them out of the two Twenty20 matches, which South Africa won in any case.

This series is the finale in what has been a fascinating summer between these two sides, who by the end will feel as if they know each other intimately after six Tests, 10 ODIs and four Twenty20 internationals in the past four months. The hosts have no more cricket on the agenda until the World Twenty20 in England in June, so this will be the last opportunity for a few players to put their names forward for that tournament. Australia will head straight from South Africa to the United Arab Emirates for a limited-overs series against Pakistan.


Form guide (last five ODIs, most recent first)

South Africa WWWLW
Australia NWWLL



Watch out for

Graeme Smith hasn't been part of the South African side for any of the Twenty20s or one-day internationals against Australia up until now. A broken left hand kept him out of the matches in Australia and an almost identical fracture in his right hand stopped him playing the third Test and two Twenty20s in South Africa. After his side conceded the Tests at home Smith will be desperate to finish the summer on a high.

Mitchell Johnson was responsible for both of the breaks to Smith's hands and he will be keen to take the new ball and have a few more cracks at the South African captain before leaving the country. Australia's star in the Test series, Johnson has much to offer with bat and ball in the shorter format as well.


Team news

Smith and Kallis, who has been out with a groin injury, should both be available to bolster the South African top order after missing the Twenty20s, while Morne Morkel and Makhaya Ntini have also been added. Yusuf Abdulla, Robin Peterson, Justin Ontong and Johann Louw were the Twenty20 squad members overlooked for the first two ODIs.

South Africa squad Graeme Smith (capt), Hashim Amla, Herschelle Gibbs, AB de Villiers, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Roelof van der Merwe, Mark Boucher (wk), Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Johan Botha, Dale Steyn, Makhaya Ntini, Wayne Parnell.

For Australia, Shane Harwood and David Warner have both headed home after the Twenty20s while Marcus North and Ben Laughlin will be aiming to make their ODI debuts at some point through the series. It is strange that there was no place for Phillip Hughes in the limited-overs squad after his brilliant and aggressive arrival on the Test scene and instead Australia will likely rely on makeshift openers Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin.

Australia squad Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin (wk), Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Callum Ferguson, Marcus North, James Hopes, Cameron White, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Geeves, Nathan Bracken, Ben Laughlin.


Pitch and conditions

Kingsmead is famous for its pace and bounce and in the day-night conditions the so-called "green mamba" influence of the tides is said to help the bowlers. The forecast for Friday is warm and cloudy.


Stats and Trivia

Should Australia win the series they will regain the No. 1 ODI ranking from South Africa
Australia have beaten South Africa four times in ODIs in Durban; South Africa have triumphed over Australia twice


Quotes

"It's always good to get the opportunity to bowl with the new ball to an opening batsman such as Graeme Smith who is such a great player."
Mitchell Johnson

"Friday, for us, is huge. We want to go one-nil up, and hopefully take momentum from that. So, yes, nice to win the Pro20s, but it's a different beast."
Mickey Arthur