Did you know the Proteas are playing Australia on Heritage Day?

With the Springboks and Bafana Bafana hogging the sporting headlines, it would be easy to forget that the Proteas are about to embark on a major home series against Australia.

South Africa and Australia meet in a three-match ODI series starting in Durban on Thursday, 24 September, but the contest has arguably flown under the radar amid a particularly busy period for South African sport.

Biggest rivals

The Springboks have dominated the rugby conversation following their Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks, while Bafana Bafana have also been grabbing attention with their upcoming 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying campaign – and the appointment of Pitso Mosimane as head coach.

Somewhere in between it all, the Proteas are preparing to face one of their biggest rivals.

And this is no ordinary ODI series.

Proteas return for Australia showdown

The first ODI takes place at Kingsmead in Durban with the second at the Wanderers in Johannesburg on Sunday, 27 September.

The series concludes at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, 30 September.

The first two matches start at 10:00, while the final ODI gets under way at 13:30.

The series also marks the return of several established Proteas after they were rested for the recent ODI series against Namibia.

Temba Bavuma returns as captain, while Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch are among the experienced players involved.

Gerald Coetzee has also been recalled to the ODI side for the first time since the 2023 World Cup.

A World Cup rehearsal

There is plenty riding on the series beyond bragging rights.

The 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup will be hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, meaning every ODI between now and the tournament forms part of the Proteas’ preparations.

Head coach Shukri Conrad has described the Australia series as an important step in shaping the squad and establishing the combinations South Africa wants heading towards next year’s tournament.

Australia, meanwhile, have strengthened their attack with the return of Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, who were rested during their recent 3-0 ODI series victory over Zimbabwe.

Injury problems for the Proteas

South Africa will not have anything close to a full-strength pace attack.

Kagiso Rabada and Ottneil Baartman are unavailable, while Lungi Ngidi was subsequently ruled out with a right hamstring injury. Nqobani Mokoena was called up as his replacement.

On Wednesday Kwena Maphaka was ruled out with a right hamstring strain. He was replaced by Boland quick Lizaad Williams.

That creates opportunities for a number of younger players, including Mokoena and Duan Jansen, while Gerald Coetzee gets another chance to establish himself in the ODI set-up.

David Miller still has plenty to offer

One of the more interesting storylines will be David Miller’s return to the Proteas ODI side.

The veteran batter recently lost his national contract, but has made it clear that he remains committed to playing for South Africa ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

Miller also has an impressive record against Australia in ODIs, averaging 57.38 from 28 matches, including three centuries.

Updated South Africa squad for Australia ODIs

Temba Bavuma (captain), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Nqobani Mokoena, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton (wkt), Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams