SA vs AUS Fantasy Prediction, 1st ODI: South Africa vs Australia Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Durban

Pat Cummins is likely to miss this opening ODI. Australia’s captain arrived in South Africa later than his fellow quicks Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, and with the Test series taking priority, he is expected to be held back for the second ODI in Johannesburg as his one outing of the series. Mitchell Marsh, who captained Australia through their Zimbabwe series, is likely to lead again in Cummins’s absence. Temba Bavuma captains a full strength South Africa side that includes Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Aiden Markram, all returning to the ODI fold. These updates will be important for the SA vs AUS Fantasy Team, especially when selecting the captain, vice-captain and key players.

SA vs AUS 1st ODI Match Details

Match: South Africa vs Australia, 1st ODI
Series: Australia Tour of South Africa 2026
Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Time: 8:00 AM Local Time
Venue: Kingsmead, Durban
Live Streaming: JioHotstar
TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network

Why Cummins May Not Play Today

This needs its own explanation. Australia are managing all three of Cummins, Starc and Hazlewood carefully across this series, since the Test series that follows is the greater priority. Cummins arrived in South Africa after Starc, and reports suggest he is set to play just the middle ODI in Johannesburg, with Starc and Hazlewood more likely to cover the first and third matches in Durban and Potchefstroom. Nathan Ellis, who was Australia’s best bowler across the Zimbabwe series, is expected to play all three ODIs in South Africa as a result.

Squad Notes

Marnus Labuschagne has been left out of Australia’s ODI squad entirely, continuing a difficult run that has seen him average under 22 in his last 18 ODI innings. Jack Edwards is a fresh addition to the squad, coming in after Billy Stanlake, who suffered a side strain during the Zimbabwe series, and Spencer Johnson, who is being managed, both returned home to Australia.

South Africa’s squad here is a clear step up from the one they used against Namibia. Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs and Marco Jansen all return, giving South Africa a full choice one day side for the first time in some time.

Recent Form

South Africa have won four of their last five. They swept Namibia 3-0, though that was with a much changed squad, and before that split a series with India. Their most recent full strength form is worth treating with some caution given how different this squad is to the one that played Namibia.

Australia have won four of their last five. They swept Zimbabwe 3-0, including a 356 run total built on Travis Head’s century, and beat Bangladesh in two of three matches on that earlier leg of this tour.

SA vs AUS Head to Head Record

South Africa lead the head to head 6-4 over the last 10 meetings. Australia won the most recent meeting, a huge scoring match, chasing 431 to win by 5 wickets. South Africa won the two matches before that, including a series win in Australia last year.

SA vs AUS Squads

South Africa: Temba Bavuma captains the side. Quinton de Kock and David Miller return to add serious experience to the middle order, and Aiden Markram offers further allround value. Marco Jansen and Kwena Maphaka lead the pace attack, with Keshav Maharaj and Bjorn Fortuin offering spin options.

Full squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Matthew Breetzke (wk), Tristan Stubbs (wk), Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton, Corbin Bosch, Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Bjorn Fortuin, Nqobani Mokoena, Kwena Maphaka, Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Lungi Ngidi, Duan Jansen.

Australia: Pat Cummins is captain but is expected to miss this specific match, with Mitchell Marsh likely to lead in his place. Travis Head arrives in outstanding recent form after his century against Zimbabwe, and Nathan Ellis has emerged as a first choice bowling option this series.

Full squad: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey (wk), Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis (wk), Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Pitch Report

Kingsmead has hosted 15 tracked matches. The side batting first has won 47 percent of them. The average first innings score is 231, dropping to 169 in the second. The highest total and highest successful chase at the ground, both 372, came in the same Australia vs South Africa match, showing this can be a real batting paradise when conditions are right.

Pace has a clear edge here, taking 57 percent of the wickets over the last 10 matches against 43 percent for spin.

Weather Report

Thursday in Durban is forecast for mostly sunny conditions, 77 percent humidity, a temperature around 22.6°C, and a 25 percent chance of rain. A full match looks likely.

Probable Playing XIs

South Africa (Probable): Ryan Rickelton, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi.

Australia (Probable): Travis Head, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Marsh (c), Josh Inglis (wk), Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Cooper Connolly, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

These are estimates. Cummins’s involvement should be confirmed at the toss, and final XIs are set at that point.

Key Player Battles

Travis Head vs South Africa’s bowling attack: Head has just scored a century against Zimbabwe and arrives in the best form of his recent career, giving Australia real momentum at the top of the order.

Aiden Markram vs Australia’s bowling: Markram gives South Africa allround value, and his experience against Australian attacks in particular could be important early on.

Nathan Ellis vs South Africa’s top order: Ellis has emerged as Australia’s most reliable bowler this series, and how he performs without the Test quicks around him will be watched closely.

SA vs AUS Fantasy Team

Wicketkeeper: Quinton de Kock, Alex Carey

Batters: Travis Head (C), David Miller (VC), Temba Bavuma

All-Rounders: Aiden Markram, Marco Jansen, Cameron Green

Bowlers: Nathan Ellis, Mitchell Starc, Keshav Maharaj

Head is captain on the back of his century against Zimbabwe and his current outstanding form. Miller is vice captain as one of South Africa’s most experienced middle order options, returning to a full strength squad.

Pat Cummins is left out of this team given the strong likelihood he does not play this specific match.

Also Read- ENG vs SL Fantasy Prediction, 2nd ODI: England vs Sri Lanka Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Leeds

Match Prediction

This is close to call. South Africa have their full strength squad back together for the first time in a while, with de Kock, Miller and Markram all returning. Australia are missing their captain for this specific match, though Travis Head’s form and a settled middle order still give them real depth.

South Africa’s home conditions and batting depth give them a slight edge in this opener, though Australia have shown throughout this tour that their squad can win without needing all three frontline quicks in the same XI.

This should be a close contest, with home advantage giving South Africa the narrowest of edges.

SA vs AUS Fantasy Team FAQs

Q. Who will win the SA vs AUS 1st ODI today?
A. This is close. South Africa have their full strength squad back together, while Australia are likely to be without captain Pat Cummins for this specific match, though Travis Head’s current form gives them real depth regardless.

Q. Is Pat Cummins playing in the 1st ODI?
A. He is likely to miss it. Cummins arrived in South Africa later than his fellow quicks and is expected to play only the second ODI in Johannesburg, with Mitchell Marsh likely to captain in his absence.

Q. Is Marnus Labuschagne in Australia’s squad?
A. No. He has been left out entirely after a difficult recent run of ODI form.

Q. What is the SA vs AUS Fantasy prediction for the 1st ODI?
A. Travis Head is the top captaincy pick given his century against Zimbabwe. David Miller is a strong vice captaincy option for South Africa.

Q. Is there a rain threat for the SA vs AUS match?
A. Not much. The forecast shows a 25 percent chance of rain with mostly sunny conditions, so a full match looks likely.