Australia names Edwards for ODI debut, elects to bowl in Durban series opener

Australia's captain Mitchell Marsh won the toss and elected to field first in the opening one-day international against South Africa at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Thursday, 24 September 2026. The decision came on an overcast morning expected to favour seam bowling. All-rounder Jack Edwards, 26, made his ODI debut after being flown in from Australia A's tour of India, having previously played one T20 International against Pakistan in January 2026. Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green, the latter returning from a shoulder injury that kept him out of the Zimbabwe series, also played their first matches of the tour.

Australia's changes saw Alex Carey dropped from the squad after averaging 19.80 across his last 16 international innings, with Josh Inglis taking the wicketkeeper role. Ollie Peake, who impressed during Australia's 3-0 clean sweep of Zimbabwe, was omitted. Australia's pace attack features Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Ellis, and debutant Edwards, while captain Pat Cummins rested ahead of the Test series. Australia has not won a bilateral ODI series against South Africa since 2014, though the tourists won two of three matches when the teams last met over a year ago.

South Africa's team selection reflects significant injury challenges. Four frontline bowlers—Kagiso Rabada, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, and others—were ruled out with hamstring injuries. In response, South Africa included two specialist left-arm spinners, Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin, to counter expected seam conditions later in the match. Gerald Coetzee, the right-arm fast bowler who broke Travis Head's hand before the 2023 World Cup, returns to ODI cricket for his first match since the semi-final in Kolkata, over three years ago. Marco Jansen leads the pace attack. Aiden Markram missed the first ODI for personal reasons, with Temba Bavuma listed at first drop and captaining the side.

Bavuma noted the injuries represent a test of South Africa's depth in the bowling department. The series forms part of both nations' preparation for the 2027 Cricket World Cup, co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Australia has historically tuned their form for major tournaments, while South Africa have held the upper hand in ODI series at home and abroad over the past decade.

The three-match series continues with matches scheduled for Johannesburg on 27 September and Potchefstroom on 30 September.