South Africa vs Australia First ODI: Betting Tips & Prediction

South Africa and Australia renew one of cricket’s great rivalries when they meet in the first ODI at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Thursday morning.

ALSO READ: Proteas Players to Watch vs Australia: Four Men Who Could Shape the ODI Series.

The three-match series opener gets underway at 10:00 SAST and marks the beginning of the Proteas’ home summer, with both nations already building towards the 2027 Cricket World Cup in Southern Africa.

South Africa enter the contest having recently swept Namibia 3-0, but this represents a considerable step up in opposition. Australia arrive after completing their own 3-0 ODI series victory over Zimbabwe and have recalled several of their biggest names.

The Proteas are understrength with the ball, but the return of Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, David Miller and Marco Jansen gives the hosts plenty of quality for what promises to be a fascinating series opener.

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South Africa’s biggest concern heading into Thursday is undoubtedly their depleted fast-bowling department.

Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Ottneil Baartman have all been ruled out through injury, while Nandre Burger is also unavailable. That leaves Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Gerald Coetzee, Kwena Maphaka, Duan Jansen and youngster Nqobani Mokoena among the pace options available to Shukri Conrad.

Coetzee’s return is particularly important. The 25-year-old hasn’t played ODI cricket for South Africa since the 2023 World Cup but has been recalled after encouraging reports about his pace.

Fortunately for the Proteas, their batting looks considerably stronger.

De Kock and Ryan Rickelton provide attacking options at the top, Bavuma returns to captain the side, while Matthew Breetzke, Miller and Tristan Stubbs give South Africa serious middle-order firepower. Aiden Markram will only become available from the second ODI onwards.

Breetzke is particularly worth watching after an outstanding start to his international career. He also knows what it takes to perform against Australia, having struck 88 against them during South Africa’s 2-1 series victory Down Under last year.

Australia, meanwhile, have travelled with an imposing squad featuring Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and Adam Zampa.

That experience in the bowling attack could be decisive.

South Africa have home advantage and plenty of batting quality, but removing Rabada, Ngidi and Baartman from the same attack represents a considerable loss of proven ODI wicket-taking ability.

Australia therefore look slightly better equipped on paper, although recent history should prevent anyone from treating this as straightforward. South Africa won their most recent ODI series in Australia 2-1 in 2025, while the Proteas also famously came back from 2-0 down to win Australia’s most recent ODI series on South African soil 3-2 in 2023.

This is a difficult opener to call because South Africa have an excellent recent record against Australia and will have home advantage.

However, the Proteas’ injury situation tips the scales slightly towards the visitors. We’re backing Australia to get the win and go 1-0 up in the three-match series.

Statistics

• South Africa’s last 10 ODIs: 5 wins, 5 losses.
  
• Australia’s last 10 ODIs: 5 wins, 5 losses.
  
• South Africa’s latest ODI series: Beat Namibia 3-0.
  
• Australia’s latest ODI series: Beat Zimbabwe 3-0.
  
• Last ODI series between the teams: South Africa beat Australia 2-1 in Australia in 2025.
  
• Australia’s last ODI tour of South Africa: South Africa won the five-match series 3-2 in 2023 after trailing 2-0.
  
• South Africa absentees: Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman and Nandre Burger are unavailable through injury.
  
• Aiden Markram: Unavailable for the first ODI but will return for matches two and three.
  

Betting Tips & Prediction

Prediction: Australia to win at 1.60.

Best Bet: Matthew Breetzke to score over 23.5 total runs at 1.80.

Alternative Bet: Top match batter runs – Under 102.5 at 1.85.