Australia tour of South Africa 2020 [Preview]
Australia is all set to tour South Africa to play three T20Is and three one-day internationals. The tour will begin with a three-match T20I series at the Wanderers from 21st February. Faf du Plessis has decided to relinquish captaincy duties from all three formats. Quinton de Kock is now the captain of the South Africa in the T20 format and will be expected to lead the team in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia.
Pacer Kagiso Rabada, Faf du Plessis and Anrich Nortje make their return to the T20I squad for Australia series. Opener Reeza Hendricks has dropped from the squad following a string of low scores in the previous series against England.
Heinrich Klaasen, JJ Smuts and Temba Bavuma have retained their place in the setup following excellent performances in the three-match series against England. Dale Steyn will lead the attack for South Africa in the T20I series.
The return of Faf du Plessis will bolster the batting resources for South Africa for this series. Experienced middle-order batsman has accumulated accumulated 1325 runs at an average of 36.80 in the T20 format. He has smashed one century and eight half-centuries for South Africa in the T20 format.
Wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock has shown splendid form with the bat across all three formats for South Africa. In the recently concluded T20I series, de Kock broke the record for the fastest half-century scored by South African batsman in the format. The team management will be hoping that opener can continue his excellent form with the bat int his three-match series.
Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller and Temba Bavuma are players that can deliver match-winning performances for the side in the T20 format. Bavuma showed consistency with the bat in his new role as makeshift opener for South Africa in the T20 format.
Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius are the other pace options for the side, whereas JJ Smuts and Tabraiz Shamsi are two spinners picked for three-match T20I series.
On the other hand, Australia are coming into this series on the back of eight match winning streak in the T20I series. The side led by Aaron Finch has managed to notch up series win against strong teams like India and Pakistan in the T20 format.
In the batting department, the side will be looking towards their experienced opening pair of David Warner and Aaron Finch to get them off to a flying start. David Warner has been standout performer with the bat for Australia across all three formats this season. In 77 T20I matches played for Australia, Warner has accumulated 2083 runs at an average of 30.18 with 1 century and 15 half-centuries to his name. He will be one player to watch out for Australia in this three-match T20I series.
Warner’s partner, Aaron Finch, is an accomplished player in the T20 format and will be looking to made notable contributions against South Africa. In 59 matches, Finch has scored 1920 runs at an average of 38.40 with 2 centuries and 11 half-centuries to his name.
On the bowling front, the new-ball pair of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins will need to make crucial breakthroughs for Australia. Adam Zampa, Kane Richardson and Ashton Agar will be other bowling options for the side for this three-match T20I series.
The three-match T20I series will be played across three venues- Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth. The culmination of T20I series will then see Australia take on South Africa in three-match ODI series. The opening game of the three-match one-day series will be played at Boland Park in Paarl on 29th February. The second and final game of the one-day series will be played at Bloemfontein on 4th March. The third and final game will be played at Senwes Park in Potchefstroom on 7th March.
