Chance to impress as Australia prepare to counter Maharaj challenge again

SOUTH AFRICA TOUR OF AUSTRALIA 2025

Chance to impress as Australia prepare to counter Maharaj challenge again

by Bharat Sundaresan • Last updated on

Marnus Labuschagne was dismissed for 1 in the first ODI © Getty

Mark Waugh doesn't hold back generally. But he sounded extra agitated the other night on commentary as Australia fell in a heap against Keshav Maharaj in Cairns. He lamented about how some in the Australian middle-order looked like they'd never faced quality left-arm spin before.

To be honest, you couldn't blame him. It was a pretty inept display of batting albeit on a surface that did grip and turn more than expected. Maharaj kept landing the ball on the perfect length, targeting the stumps, and one after the other, the Aussies got stuck in their crease, exposing their pads or their stumps or both.

While Marnus Labuschagne could at least claim to have been dismissed off a truly brilliant delivery-not that it gives him any excuse for not making the most of a valuable opportunity to send the selectors a reminder-the others largely surrendered to Maharaj's guile without a fight. Or even a semblance of any intent.

If not for captain Mitch Marsh's rearguard efforts, Australia might well have suffered their worst home defeat in an ODI in nearly 35 years-ironically when another left-arm spinner, Ravi Shastri, spun them into submission at the WACA.

This was also the latest in a string of poor results for the defending 50-over champions since the start of the year, Rarely, has an Australian ODI team gone on such a losing spree, even if you can cite the constant rotation of players and lack of stability with the team for it. With Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell now retired from the format, they're also looking at a revamp in the middle-order, which currently includes players who are either still finding their feet or are under immense pressure to perform. On form alone, Australia look primed to lose their umpteenth ODI series to South Africa, who have had the wood over them for nearly a decade and are taking an enviable lead in the historic head-to-heads.

With the next World Cup still two years away, these results might still not set off panic stations, but for a number of the players in this team, these are chances to make an impression that can't go to waste. Starting with Labuschagne, who in his bid to get his Test spot back, needs to get a score and not risk his spot in the ODI setup after what's been a lean run of scores. Maybe start with using his feet against Maharaj and the South African spinners. Something the rest of his colleagues will have to do too to avoid a repeat of the embarrassment in Cairns.

When: Australia v South Africa, 2nd ODI, August 22, 2025, 14:30 hrs Local Time, 10:00 hrs IST

Where: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay

What to expect: Rarely do we get to an international venue in Australia which feels as unchartered as the Great Barrier Reef Arena, which hasn't seen any men's cricket since the 1992 World Cup. So, while there are a few domestic and women's international cricket stats to go by, the sample size is still too small for the analysts to make any real assumptions as to how the conditions will play out. Marsh would not have expected spin to have as much of an impact as it did when he chose to field first in Cairns, and expect him to not go down that route again if he does win the toss here.

Team News

Australia:While it was their batting that copped the most flak for the heavy defeat in the first ODI, Australia's bowling wasn't the most impressive apart from Josh Hazlewood being his stingy self and Travis Head snaring four wickets. Head's performance with the ball further highlighted the need for a secondary spin option for Australia and the absence of the now-retired Maxwell. That should mean that Cooper Connolly comes in as the all-rounder at No 7 for Aaron Hardie.

Probable XI:Travis Head, Mitch Marsh (c), Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Aaron Hardie/Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshius, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood

South Africa:You wouldn't normally mess with a side who have won by 98 runs, but you don't usually have one of its members - in this case Prenelan Subrayen - reported for suspect action. Step up Senuran Muthusamy, although the fact that he is, like matchwinner Keshav Maharaj, also a left-arm orthodox spinner might complicate matters. If it does, Kwena Maphaka could crack the nod ahead of Lungi Ngidi, who disappointed with the new ball in Cairns. But the case for Muthusamy seems stronger.

Probable XI: Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Wiaan Mulder, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi

© Cricbuzz

TAGS

RELATED STORIES

Click here to read article