SA vs AUS Fantasy Prediction, 2nd ODI: South Africa vs Australia Fantasy Team, Playing XI, Pitch Report, Johannesburg

Pat Cummins is set to make a real return to ODI cricket in this match, his first appearance in the format in almost two years. Australia’s captain arrived in South Africa later than his fellow quicks and was held back for the series opener, with this second match earmarked as his one outing of the tour before the Test series takes priority again. His return will be a key consideration for anyone preparing the SA vs AUS 2nd ODI Fantasy Team, especially when assessing Australia’s bowling options. South Africa go into this match on the back of a comfortable win in the opener, Temba Bavuma’s side posting 297/8 and bowling Australia out for 230.

SA vs AUS Match Details

Match: South Africa vs Australia, 2nd ODI
Series: Australia tour of South Africa 2026
Date: Sunday, 27 September 2026
Time: 8:00 AM Local Time
Venue: The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Live Streaming: Crex, FanCode and Eurosport

Pat Cummins’s Return

This deserves proper coverage. Cummins’s last ODI appearance came against Pakistan in Adelaide in November 2024, a gap of almost two years. He arrived in South Africa after Mitchell Starc, with Australia prioritising their Test quicks’ preparation for the series that follows this one, and he was held back for the opener as a result. Reports before the series suggested this middle match in Johannesburg was always the game earmarked as Cummins’s one appearance, alongside Starc and Josh Hazlewood being staggered across the first and third matches.

Mitchell Marsh, who captained the opening defeat, has been open about the uncertainty around the leadership going forward. “I guess we’ll find out when he plays,” Marsh said when asked whether he would hand the captaincy back to Cummins for this match.

A Squad Note Worth Checking

South Africa were missing Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, both managing hamstring issues, and Aiden Markram, who was unavailable for personal reasons, heading into the series opener. Both Ngidi and Markram appear in the squad list shown for this match, so their actual return and fitness should be confirmed at the toss rather than assumed.

Recent Form

South Africa have won four of their last five. They beat Australia in the series opener, and before that swept Namibia 3-0, including a 348 run total in the first match of that series. Their only defeat in that stretch came in India late last year.

Australia have won four of their last five, though their only defeat came in the most recent match, the series opener here. Before that they completed a 3-0 sweep of Zimbabwe, including Travis Head’s century and a 356 run total.

SA vs AUS Head to Head Record

South Africa lead the head to head 7-3 over the last 10 meetings, including the win in this series opener. Australia’s most recent win in this fixture came in a huge scoring match last year, chasing 431 to win by 5 wickets, though South Africa won the two matches before that in the same series in Australia.

SA vs AUS Squads

South Africa: Temba Bavuma captains the side. Quinton de Kock and David Miller add serious experience to the middle order, and Marco Jansen and Kwena Maphaka lead the pace attack in the continued absence of Rabada.

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

Australia: Pat Cummins is set to return as captain for this specific match after being held back for the opener. Travis Head arrives in outstanding recent form, and Nathan Ellis has emerged as a first choice bowling option throughout this tour.

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

The Wanderers Stadium has hosted 19 tracked matches. The side bowling first has a slight edge, winning 47 percent of matches against 42 percent for the side batting first. The average first innings score is 237, dropping to 204 in the second. The highest total and highest successful chase at the ground, both 438, came in the same Australia vs South Africa match, one of the most famous run chases in ODI history.

Pace has a clear edge here, taking 61 percent of the wickets over the last 10 matches against 39 percent for spin.

Weather Report

Sunday in Johannesburg is forecast for partly sunny conditions, 49 percent humidity, a temperature around 26.5°C, and a 25 percent chance of rain. Check the toss and any delay before finalising your fantasy team.

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, Gerald Coetzee.

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

These are estimates. Final XIs, including confirmation of Cummins’s return, are set at the toss.

Key Player Battles

Pat Cummins vs South Africa’s top order: Cummins returns to the format for the first time in almost two years, and his pace with the new ball is the most significant change to Australia’s attack for this match.

Travis Head vs South Africa’s bowling attack: Head has been in outstanding recent form, including a century against Zimbabwe, and continues to set the tone at the top of Australia’s order.

Quinton de Kock vs Australia’s returning quicks: De Kock faces a stronger Australian pace attack this time, with Cummins and Starc both available, a real step up from the bowling he faced in the opener.

SA vs AUS Fantasy Team

Wicketkeepers: Quinton de Kock, Alex Carey

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

All-rounders: Pat Cummins (C), Marco Jansen, Cameron Green

Bowlers: Mitchell Starc, Keshav Maharaj, Nathan Ellis

Cummins is captain on the back of his significant return to the ODI format, adding real pace to Australia’s attack in his one appearance of the series. Head is vice captain given his current outstanding form.

Given the uncertainty around Ngidi and Markram’s fitness, monitor team news closely before finalising your own selections.

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

Match Prediction

This is close to call. South Africa have the head to head edge and just won the series opener comfortably, but Australia’s attack is considerably strengthened by the addition of both Cummins and Starc for this specific match.

South Africa’s home conditions and batting depth remain a real asset, though facing a full strength Australian pace attack for the first time this series is a real test.

This should be closely fought, with Australia’s strengthened attack offering a narrow edge in this specific match.

SA vs AUS 2nd ODI Fantasy Team FAQs

Q. Who will win the SA vs AUS 2nd ODI today?
A. This is close. South Africa won the series opener comfortably, but Australia’s attack is considerably strengthened by Pat Cummins’s return for this specific match.

Q. Is Pat Cummins playing in the 2nd ODI?
A. He is expected to. Cummins was held back for the opener and this match has been reported as his one appearance of the series, his first ODI in almost two years.

Q. What happened in the first ODI of this series?
A. South Africa won comfortably, posting 297/8 and bowling Australia out for 230 in 41.2 overs.

Q. What is the SA vs AUS Fantasy prediction for the 2nd ODI?
A. Pat Cummins is the top captaincy pick given his return to the format. Travis Head is a strong vice captaincy option given his current form.

Q. Is there a rain threat for the SA vs AUS match?
A. Some. The forecast shows a 25 percent chance of rain, so it is worth checking conditions closer to the toss.