Proteas and Australia renew rivalry in Durban as three-ODI series opens

Series opener at Kingsmead

The first One Day International between South Africa and Australia gets underway at Kingsmead in Durban on 24 September 2026, with the first ball scheduled for 1:30 p.m. local time. The contest is the opener of a three-match ODI series as part of Australia's tour of South Africa, and the match is yet to begin.

Evenly matched rivals

Both sides enter the series ranked joint-third in the ICC ODI rankings, setting up a tightly contested rubber between two of the world's leading white-ball sides. Historically, South Africa hold the edge in the head-to-head, having won 57 of the 113 ODIs played between the two nations, compared to Australia's 52 victories.

Recent form

In the last 12 months, Australia have played 12 ODIs, winning 7 and losing 5 for a win percentage of 58.33. South Africa have featured in 9 ODIs in the same period, winning 5 and losing 4, a win rate of 55.56 per cent — underlining how little separates the two outfits heading into the series.

Players to watch

Over the past year, Quinton de Kock has been South Africa's leading run-getter with 353 runs, while Nandre Burger has taken 8 wickets. For Australia, Cooper Connolly tops the charts with 421 runs and Nathan Ellis leads the bowling with 20 wickets — form the tourists will be hoping carries into the Durban opener.

South Africa squad

The Proteas have named a strong group featuring David Miller, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch, Aiden Markram, Bjorn Fortuin, Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, Duan Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Kwena Maphaka and Nqobani Mokoena.

Australia squad

Australia's travelling party includes Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Marsh, Pat Cummins, Billy Stanlake, Adam Zampa, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw, Josh Inglis, Xavier Bartlett, Cameron Green, Spencer Johnson, Nathan Ellis, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies and Oliver Peake.

What's at stake

With both teams locked on third in the ODI rankings and a near-even historical ledger, the Durban clash offers an early statement of intent in a series that could hinge on which pace attack fires first on South African soil.