ICC World Cup 2023: Australia hopes to shrug off India defeat as it takes on high-flying South Africa

South Africa amassed the biggest total in ICC ODI World Cup history in the campaign opener against Sri Lanka last week, which it won by 102 runs in Delhi.

While Australia comes into the match after a loss to India in their campaign opener while South Africa won its first match, beating Sri Lanka by 102 runs. | Photo Credit: AP/The Hindu

The most enduring memories of ODIs between Australia and South Africa invoke the shock of seeing Allan Donald inexplicably rooted at the non-striker’s end in a tied World Cup semifinal in 1999 and the thrill of a Protean pursuit of a record 435 in 2006 at Johannesburg in a match that gave 50-over cricket its first taste of 400-plus totals.

Between these events and beyond, South Africa has reinforced its ‘choker’ tag while Australia has added four World Cup titles.

But, with the winds of change blowing across cricketing meadows and knocking down cherished ideals and dogmas, South Africa is showing signs of shedding that tag and injecting life into one-dayers. It amassed the biggest total in World Cup history in the campaign opener against Sri Lanka last week.

Australia has also kept pace with the evolving tempo of one-day cricket and has a top-six, led by David Warner and Mitchell Marsh, capable of the big hits and maneuvering the field with aplomb.

The two recently squared off in a five-match series, which saw them score at over 6.5 runs an over and exemplified their approach; if anything could put pay to their intentions on Thursday, it will be the conditions at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.

The last match held here saw India drag itself to a 100-run target in 19.4 overs on a sluggish track, prompting the removal of the curator. However, the pitch has undergone a renovation since and Cummins said the wicket looked promising.

“The wicket looks really good. I haven’t had a look at it today, but last night looked really good, really even. So maybe a bit of pace and bounce,” he said.

South Africa has been running against its grain of late and has an unsettled pace attack in the absence of tearaway speedster Anrich Nortje. Its spin stocks, just like an Ashton Agar-less Australia, also lacks bite.

In Tabraiz Shamsi, South Africa has got a potent leg-spinner who could look to exploit Australia’s weakness against spin in the middle-overs.

Quinton de Kock said that while the team was mulling over playing a second spinner, the Australians were good players of spin bowling and that most teams would have struggled against such a quality spin attack.

“I’ve played against a lot of these guys, guys like Warner, Smith, Marnus, Maxi, these guys really play spin really well in general,” he said. “I think it was just that one game, that’s the way I see it,” he added.

Australia and South Africa have the worst death overs economy rates this year amongst all teams participating in the tournament, and how their bowlers fare in this phase against a pantheon of hard-hitters could determine the contest.