Proteas choose to bowl after match delay against Australia in Portcheffersmore

Australian captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and decided to start the match with bowling against the Proteas team in the first ODI held in Kingsmead on Thursday.

The Proteas team, facing a crisis in fast bowling, included two left-arm spinners in the starting lineup: Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin. Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee also returned to the starting XI, for the first time since the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final against Australia in Kolkata.

Proteas is missing middle-order batsman Tristan Stubbs; instead, left-hander Ryan Rickelton is placed in the middle order, and Tony de Zorzi will open the innings alongside Quinton de Kock, as Aiden Markram is absent.

Captains' Comments

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma noted the necessity of utilizing available bowling resources. He stated: 'We had to delve into our bowling resources. It creates an opportunity for the guys who need to fill these gaps. We prefer to work with what we have. I am fully confident in the players who will come into the game.'

Bavuma added that if the toss had gone in Proteas' favour, they would likely have started with bowling, as they expect more swing in the morning, possibly a slower pitch, but the team will adapt.

For his part, Marsh reported that Australia gave ODI debut to all-rounder Jack Edwards, and wicketkeeper Alex Carey was dropped from the squad due to the return of Cameron Green. Marsh emphasized the strategy: 'We are going to start with bowling and try to get an early start.'

He also highlighted the importance of the series for young players who have played little in South Africa.

Team Lineups for Kingsmead

The Proteas lineup includes Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (captain), Matthew Britzke, Ryan Rickelton, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Bjorn Fortuin, and Keshav Maharaj. The Australian team is represented by Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh (captain), Cooper Connolly, Josh Inglis (wicketkeeper), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, and Josh Hazlewood.

Proteas captain Temba Bavuma admitted that the squad will be forced to adjust its tactics in the upcoming ODI series against Australia. This is due to a significant number of injuries among the home team's fast bowlers.

The main blow landed on Proteas' attacking resources: spearhead Kagiso Rabada was ruled out of the series even before team announcements, joined by Otneil Bartman, Lungie Ngidi, and Kwena Maphaka. All four sustained hamstring strains, in addition to Nandre Burger's long-term stress fracture.

This crisis in fast bowling has depleted the Proteas department's resources, and Marco Jansen, alongside Gerald Coetzee, Corbin Bosch, Duane Jansen, Lizzad Williams, and 20-year-old Nkobani Mokoena, must now lead the attack. Jansen is the most experienced player with 32 ODI matches, while the other players collectively have only 42 matches.

Bavuma stated just before the series began in Kingsmead that the team is built around fast bowlers. He emphasized that it is important for opponents to know they will face Proteas' fast bowlers, as this is part of the team's DNA. However, due to current issues, he noted the necessity of adaptation.

"We definitely have to adapt. Losing players like KG and Lungie is not something you can simply replace at the top of the list. We are studying the depth of our fast bowling resources and bringing these guys in to play their role," said Bavuma. He added that a player like Lizzad will certainly play a role, but the overall task is adaptation.

Although Proteas rarely used two primary spinners in ODIs at home, the fast bowling crisis might prompt a review of this strategy, especially given the presence of Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin in the 16-man squad. Both left-arm spinners are experienced, and few know the conditions at Kingsmead better than the local Maharaj, who also recently captained Proteas during the Namibia tour.

Proteas coach Shukri Conrad may be forced to use both spinners in the first ODI, but Bavuma clarified that the team retains open options when selecting the starting XI. "I think we will have to maximize the resources we have in bowling. As for the spin department, there are options," Bavuma reported. He concluded that the squad would be finalized after assessing the conditions, and despite the incomplete roster, "we will manage in true South African style."

Marco Yansen and Duane Yansen are the only pair of twins playing for the Proteas team. Although the series could have been decided earlier, the third ODI against Australia, scheduled for late this month in Potchefstroom, may hold special significance for these twins.

The city of Potchefstroom, located in the North West province, is dear to both brothers. They are the only twins who have ever represented the Proteas. The brothers were born just a 40-minute drive from there, in neighboring Clerksdorp, and attended Potchefstroom Gymnasium before debuting for the professional team NW Dragons.

The twins have played together only twice in top professional leagues, making their joint appearance for Proteas at the former JB Marks Oval even more meaningful. Marco noted: 'Playing in any game for Proteas together would be special, but I think if it happens in Potch, it will be even more special.'

He continued that since they grew up near Potch and studied there, if such an opportunity arises, they will definitely take advantage of it and enjoy it to the fullest. Marco is a recognized international superstar, regularly playing in franchise leagues worldwide, and has already played 83 times for Proteas in various formats.

Meanwhile, Duane debuted on the international stage during a recent tour of Namibia. His participation in the upcoming ODI series, starting on Thursday at Kingsmead, was made possible due to a hamstring injury sustained by Otneil Bartman. However, Marco is confident that his identical twin, Duane, can handle the task against the Australians if needed.

Marco expressed pride in his brother, saying: 'I am very, very proud of him and very happy for him because I am obviously his brother. I know what he is capable of. I know what he can do.'

He added that Duane initially struggled early in his career, but now he has reached a point where everything is going well, he feels comfortable in his game, and he is confident in his abilities.

Duane's presence in the Proteas squad will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the psychological state of the team's leading all-rounder. Marco, being a family-oriented person who values time with loved ones, has recently had to sacrifice this due to his international commitments in franchise leagues, which have taken him to India (IPL), the USA (MLC), and Great Britain (The Hundred) in recent months.

He explained that constant travel and being away from home, family, and friends can be uncomfortable for anyone. Marco shared that he grew up in a family where they always gathered, had joint dinners, birthdays, weekends, and evenings, and that this causes a feeling of homesickness when you are away from home for two months or longer.

Marco will undoubtedly value playing international cricket on home soil the most. Since the third ODI against Pakistan shortly before Christmas in 2024, this lean left-arm fast bowler has played only two Tests and one T20I on South African soil in almost two years. This is why he highly valued the recent first-class match for Titans to adapt to local conditions and regain his rhythm.

Before this four-day match, he had only three days of preparation and felt insufficiently ready. However, he felt good during the game: his timing was good, his body was good. He noted that on the third day he bowled as if it were a 10-over session where he felt 100 percent. After this four-day match, he feels very good regarding rhythm and bowling.

All this positively affects Marco and Proteas, as the 27-year-old player prepares to lead the attack in the absence of stars like Kagiso Rabada and Lungisi Ngidi, as well as Bartman, on Thursday.