The Proteas, the South African team, decided to start the game with bowling after the match against Australia in Portcheffersmore was delayed by thirty minutes due to wet conditions on the pitch at the North West University stadium. Proteas vice-captain Aiden Markram made this decision after the team won the toss in the third and final ODI.
Australia's Tour of South Africa
Proteas fast bowler Nkobani Mokoena received his first wicket in the series against Australia in Portcheffersmore on Wednesday. This marked the first instance in the series where Proteas chose to bowl, as Australian captain Mitch Marsh had won the previous two tosses and opted for a chase, both of which proved unsuccessful.
Coach Shukri Conrad stated plans to make changes in this 'dead' game, including featuring young fast bowler Nkobani Mokoena in the squad for the first time during the series. This will be only Mokoena's third ODI appearance following his debut during the recent tour of Namibia. Mokoena's inclusion is one of five changes in the squad that concluded the series on Sunday in the ODI at Wanderers.
Regular captain Temba Bavuma is resting, and leadership has been passed to Markram. Tony de Zorzi, Ryan Rickelton, Gerald Kotze, and Corbin Bosch have returned to the squad. Markram explained his decision: 'We are going to bowl, there are quite obvious reasons. The weather is a bit variable, and the pitch was under cover for most of the morning. So, if anything is going to happen today, we will open with bowling and hope to review better options later.'
During the ODI between South Africa and Australia at JB Marks Oval in Portcheffersmore on Wednesday, pitch preparation was underway.
The Australian side also made several changes, including featuring Pat Cummins in the squad for the first time in the series. Mitch Marsh noted that although the series is over, there is still much room for development within their team: 'It's obviously a shame the series ended, but there is still a lot for our team to play, and there are many areas that need improvement, which I hope we will see today.'
Marsh added that they made some forced changes, including Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, and Pick, and expressed hope for a successful conclusion to the series.