Bavuma’s Return Sets the Tone for South Africa’s Home Push

South Africa open a three-match ODI series against Australia in Durban on September 24, with Temba Bavuma back in the 50-over side after a long absence. The tour is an early marker in the Proteas’ planning for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which they will co-host with Zimbabwe and Namibia.

Experienced names are back in the frame

This is a far more settled-looking squad than the one South Africa used in their most recent ODI assignment against Namibia. Bavuma returns alongside Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, David Miller, Corbin Bosch and Quinton de Kock, giving the team a stronger senior core for a key stretch of one-day cricket.

The captain said the time away from the format has felt especially long, and he is eager to be back in action with the group. He also stressed that South Africa want to protect their recent ODI results while staying sharp for what lies ahead.

Nine ODIs will shape World Cup decisions

South Africa may play as many as nine ODIs over the next four months, with Australia, Bangladesh and England on the schedule. Bavuma views that run as a major part of the team’s build-up to a home World Cup, not just a series of isolated fixtures.

He has made it clear that the general shape of the side is already known, even if some places remain open. After the England series, he believes the group should be much closer to the final World Cup picture.

• Core group: the leadership expects only limited changes to the main ODI unit.
• Fresh chances: newer players should still get opportunities before the cycle closes.
• Key checkpoint: the England series is likely to bring the selection picture into sharper focus.

Top-order balance still needs a final call

One of the biggest selection questions is who opens with de Kock. Bavuma said he will bat somewhere in the top three, but South Africa still need to decide which player joins de Kock at the top.

Tony de Zorzi is also an option because he has already filled both opening and number three roles for the national side. Aiden Markram’s availability adds another wrinkle, since he is only set to play the second and third ODIs.

Bowling changes and batting omissions

Gerald Coetzee is back in the ODI setup, while Kagiso Rabada misses the series because of injury. Rabada is still aiming to recover in time for the Test matches that follow.

The pace unit now includes Ottneil Baartman, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen and Coetzee. In the batting group, Dewald Brevis has been left out, with Matthew Breetzke, David Miller and Tristan Stubbs chosen for the middle order instead.

Bjorn Fortuin and Keshav Maharaj are the two specialist spin options in the squad.

Match	Date	Venue
First ODI	September 24	Durban
Second ODI	September 27	Johannesburg
Third ODI	September 30	Potchefstroom
First Test	October 9–13	Durban
Second Test	October 18–22	Gqeberha
Third Test	October 27–31	Johannesburg

The Test challenge is already looming

The focus remains on the ODI series for now, but the three-Test contest that follows is impossible to ignore. It will be the first Test meeting between South Africa and Australia since the 2025 World Test Championship final at Lord’s, which South Africa won.

Bavuma said it is difficult not to talk about the Test matches while the squad is still in one-day mode. He described the upcoming red-ball series as a highly anticipated contest that should be more meaningful if both teams are close to full strength.

“It’s very hard not to find yourself speaking about the Test series, even though you’re within the ODI space,” Bavuma said.

He added that the best approach is to keep the bigger picture in mind without letting it distract from the present assignment.

South Africa and Australia by the numbers

The ODI rivalry between the two sides has been tight over the years. In 113 matches, South Africa hold a 57-52 lead, with three ties and one no-result, and they also lead the home record 28-22.

Team	Selected squad
South Africa	Temba Bavuma (c), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs
Australia	Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Billy Stanlake, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa

A crowded few weeks ahead in South African cricket

Durban will host both the series opener and the first Test, giving the tour a familiar starting point before the action moves elsewhere. South Africa still have a few decisions to settle, including de Kock’s opening partner, Markram’s return for the second ODI and Rabada’s fitness ahead of the Test series.

With Bangladesh and England also coming later in the season, the Proteas should have a much clearer sense of their preferred World Cup group by the time the England matches are done.