Cummins returns as injury-hit Australia seek to avoid series whitewash
Pat Cummins returns for his first ODI since 2024 as a depleted Australian side looks to avoid a series whitewash against South Africa in Potchefstroom.
An injury-hit Australia have welcomed back Pat Cummins for their third ODI against South Africa, as they look to avoid a series whitewash. The visitors are two-nill down in the three-match series, with alarm bells well and truly ringing just twelve months out from an African ODI World Cup.
Australia have made three changes for the final match of the series, with Cummins returning for his first ODI since 2024 alongside Mitchell Starc, who was rested in the second ODI. However, despite being Australia's official ODI captain, Mitchell Marsh will again take the reins in Potchefstroom.
Youngster Ollie Peake is also back after being overlooked for the first two matches despite strong form on the preceding tour of Zimbabwe. Josh Hazlewood has been rested ahead of Test duties, while Nathan Ellis and Jack Edwards are sidelined.
South Africa have made five changes, with captain Temba Bavuma joining Hazlewood on the sidelines ahead of next week's first Test in Durban. Star all-rounder Marco Jansen has also been rested, alongside in-form spinner Keshav Maharaj.
The Proteas won the first two matches by sixty-seven and thirty-two runs respectively, with Australia twice throwing away strong starts through a misfiring middle order. Making matters worse, the Aussie squad has been ravaged by injury.
Josh Inglis broke a finger in the first ODI and is in doubt for the Test series, while Joel Davies and Nathan Ellis were also ruled out of Game 3. Cummins will feature in his first ODI since 2024, providing an immediate boost to an Australian bowling attack which has struggled thus far.
The forecast isn't kind to the tourists' hopes of salvaging something from the series, with the South African highveld battered by rain in the lead-up and temperatures reaching as low as six degrees Celsius.
Australia XI: Mitchell Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Ollie Peake, Alex Carey (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Pat Cummins, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.