Marsh expects little change in Oz’s aggressive approach to ODIs against SA

Australia’s stand-in ODI skipper Mitchell Marsh said he does not anticipate a major shift in the side’s batting approach as they move from T20Is against South Africa to ODIs against the same opposition, starting at the Cazalys Stadium on Tuesday. After captaining Australia to 2-1 T20I series win, Marsh will again lead the ODI side in the absence of regular captain Pat Cummins, who has been rested. In the T20I series, Australia employed a strategy of attacking from the word go – which brought success but also left them dealing with collapses.

But Marsh is backing Australia to continue the high-tempo batting style in ODIs. “Getting ready to spend three and a half hours in the field will be a little bit different for a few of the boys. But as a group and as a whole, nothing really changes. (There’s a) bit of a mindset change, it’s obviously different format. But the same stuff rolls on,” Marsh told reporters on Monday.

Marsh has captained Australia nine times in ODIs, including tours to South Africa in 2023 and England in 2024, when Cummins was unavailable. Known for preferring to chase in T20Is, Marsh hinted that the same trend could be extended by hosts’ to the ODI series. “It’s a bit of a common trend, generally speaking, in T20 cricket these days. You get to assess the conditions, but you also just know what you’re chasing. I’m certainly not afraid to bat first. But we have lent towards bowling first. Playing with dew is not something that we’re used to in Australia. We saw the ball get really soft in Darwin (during the third T20I). That’s been a different challenge for us,” he added.

The second and third ODIs will be played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay on Friday and Sunday.

Spotlight on Brevis: The spotlight in Cairns is set to shine on Dewald Brevis as South Africa’s young batting sensation prepares for his much-anticipated ODI debut in the opening game against Australia.

Fresh off a thrilling T20I series where his fearless stroke play lit up the contest, Brevis now steps into the 50-over arena, with the Proteas hoping he can bring the same spark to their middle order. His arrival marks the beginning of South Africa’s build-up to the 2027 ODI World Cup, which they will co-host with Zimbabwe and Namibia, and the selectors have wasted no time in giving him exposure against one of the toughest opponents in world cricket. For South Africa, the series is about balancing the excitement of new talent with the stability of experience. Temba Bavuma will lead the side, having recently lifted the World Test Championship mace at Lord’s, while Keshav Maharaj’s return offers a steady hand in the spin department.

Wiaan Mulder, another player in focus, will be looking to strengthen his credentials in the 50-over format after impressing with the ball at the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Bavuma has confirmed he will bat at No. 3, setting up an order that could see Brevis unleash his attacking flair against Australia’s bowlers. Australia, meanwhile, come into the series with their own set of fresh faces. Injuries to Matt Short, Mitchell Owen and Lance Morris have opened the door for youngsters Cooper Connolly, Aaron Hardie and Matt Kuhnemann.

Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc remain rested, but Marnus Labuschagne returns to the squad, searching for runs to reboot his international career after being dropped from the Test side earlier this year. Skipper Mitchell Marsh has hinted at continuing his trend of bowling first after winning the toss, although the dew factor in Cairns could influence tactics.

Indo-Asian News Service