Key events
2nd over: South Africa 1-1 (de Kock 0, Bavuma 1) That’s an excellent opening set from Xavier Bartlett. He’s found a great length with a bit of nip both in and away to Bavuma. There’s a shout for lbw but that was lifting off the bouncy deck. He strays on the pads once but Bavuma can’t take advantage so it ends with a maiden.
1st over: South Africa 1-1 (de Kock 0, Bavuma 1). What a start for the visitors and Hazlewood who bagged the big wicket of Markram with the first ball – a short and wide one that was clattered but brilliantly held by Connolly at cover-point. Bavuma, in at first drop, picked up the first run with a nudge off his hips.
The commentators are wondering if Markram could have let that ball go as it was his first.
I’m not sure I agree. I know it’s a 50-over game, but that ball was there to be hit. And he hit it well. Sometimes cricket is like that, though.
That really was a stunning catch from CC. Markram couldn’t have hit that better.
WICKET! Markram c Connolly b Hazlewood 0 (South Africa 0-1
WICKET FIRST BALL! It’s short and wide and Markram hammers it off the back foot, but it’s within reach of Connolly at cover-point who leaps to grab it with one hand above his head. What a start for the Aussies!
Josh Hazlewood, who was excellent in the opener, will take the first over.
Reminder that Micthell Starc, who usually opens, is not playing.
Vernon Philander on comms says, “the first ten overs will be crucial.”
Aren’t they always? Is there any 10-over cluster that is not crucial?
Anthems now.
Today is a warm-up of sorts for fans of both sports ahead of the clashing World Cups next year.
In October 2027, South Africa will host the Cricket World Cup which Australia will defend, while Australia will host the Rugby World Cup, which South Africa will defend.
What a shame they’re not in different months. Of course, I blame the Indian Premier League.
Marco Jansen is doing some pre-match press.
He’s not a great talker, but he is a hell of a cricketer.
Want to know my hot take? By the end of the South African summer – which includes Tests against Bangladesh and England – everyone around the cricket world will agree that he is the best player in the game.
He’s two metres tall. He swings it both ways with his left arm. He can whack sixes and build innings. He catches pigeons across the park. He is a cheat code.
“The ball is going to ping through nicely,” says Shaun Pollock at the pitch inspection.
He says bowling first was the right call.
Will be interesting to see how South Africa’s two spinners go. Both Maharaj and Fortuin are left-arm finger spinners.
I remember watching Adam Gilchrist launch Nicky Boje around the Wanderers as he clobbered the fastest ever Test double ton in 2002.
Should have noted that Inglis has a finger injury, which is why Carey comes in.
South Africa team
Aiden Markram slots in at the top of the order, replacing Ryan Rickelton.
There are three other changes from the first game. Lizaad Williams is in for Gerald Coetzee, Duan Jansen (Marco’s twin) replaces Corbin Bosch and Tristan Stubbs nudges out Tony de Zorzi.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Duan Jansen, Bjorn Fortuin, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams.
Australia team
No Pat Cummins today.
Xavier Bartlett comes in for Mitchell Starc, surely being rested now for the Test series.
Alex Carey takes the gloves from Josh Inglis.
Australia XI: Mitch Marsh (c), Travis Head, Cooper Connelly, Alex Carey (wk), Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
Australia win the toss, bowl first
It’ll be another chase for Australia after the coin flip goes the way of Mitch Marsh.
Temba Bavuma suggests that he would have perhaps bowled first as well.
News just in…
Ryan Rickelton has withdrawn from South Africa’s team due to “personal reasons”.
He’ll be back for the third ODI on Wednesday.
Hope everything’s OK.
South Africa’s Pink ODI tradition began at the Wanderers in 2013, raising breast-cancer awareness and funds.
The Pink ODI Fund has supported breast-care services at Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital.
I was there for the most famous edition back in 2015 when South Africa made 439-2 against West Indies, then the country’s ODI record. AB de Villiers was unreal, thwacking 149 from 44 balls, reaching his hundred in 31 balls, then the fastest ODI century. Hashim Amla made an unbeaten 153 and Rilee Rossouw 128 as South Africa won by 148 runs.
South Africa remain Australia’s nemesis in this format.
After the first ODI in Durban, the teams had played 114 ODIs: South Africa 58 wins, Australia 52, three ties and one no-result.
Against every other opponent, the Aussies have a superior record.
On the other hand, they also have six World Cup wins while South Africa have yet to get off the mark.
Go on then…
Take another look at the greatest ever run chase in ODI history.
Preamble
Daniel Gallan
Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the second of three ODIs between Australia and South Africa.
We’re in Johannesburg, home of the greatest 50-over game ever played, for a very special day.
It’s the annual Pink Day at the Wanderers where the home side will change their green kit pink to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer detection and treatment. They’ll also be switching out their names on the backs of their shirts for the names of survivors. David Miller will have his mom’s name on his back today.
On the pitch, this is South Africa’s best venue for high octane cricket. A bouncy pitch sees the ball fly off the surface and onto the batters’ blades while the thin air at altitude compels the ball over the ropes and into the heaving stands. In my opinion, it’s the best venue for cricket anywhere in the world.
Australia need a response after their chase of 298 collapse in Durban in a 67-run defeat. Matthew Breetzke’s 112 launched South Africa to a decent score before Micth Marsh and Travis Head got off to a flyer.
But regular wickets, including that of Matt Renshaw who was caught spectacularly by Marco Jansen on the boundary, pegged the Aussies back.
Can they find an extra gear to level the series? We’ll find out soon enough.
Toss and teams to come before play starts at 10am local time/9am BST/6pm AEST.
