South Africa vs Australia 1st ODI Prediction

If AUS Bat First

Predicted Score: Around 300

Except Shaun Marsh who will have to sit out due to injury, Australia will have nearly all of their firepower when it comes to batting. David Warner, skipper Steven Smith and George Bailey are all amongst the runs and the visitors should get to 300 or more if these three bat to their potential. Bailey was the highest run-scorer in the Sri Lanka ODI series and going by his current form, he could top-score for Australia in this match. What remains to be seen is whether Aaron Finch will be brought in place of Usman Khawaja who made an unbeaten 82 against Ireland.

The South African pace attack will be devoid of Morne Morkel and Chris Morris. Kagiso Rabada, Aaron Phangiso and Wayne Parnell are likely to feature in the playing XI along with Dale Steyn who will be playing an ODI for his country after almost a year. Steyn had a great test series against New Zealand and he had also created a lot of problems for the Australian batters in the 2011/12 home ODI series. Imran Tahir has been doing a good job with the ball, but we feel that Dale Steyn could be their top bowler as the pitch at the SuperSport Park is one of the quicker ones to be found in South Africa.

SA vs AUS Head-to-Head in ODIs

South Africa and Australia have met 91 times in one-day internationals in the past with the latter leading the win-loss stat by 47-40. Three of these games have resulted in a tie while one did not produce a result.

Both teams have won four games each in their last eight face-offs on South African soil. At the SuperSport Park, the two teams have faced each other in six ODIs and the scores are levelled here with both winning three games each.

Our Prediction

Australia are the current World Champions in 50-overs cricket and their recent performances give a clear indication that they have been playing like one. After winning the World Cup at home, they have defeated teams including England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in ODI bilateral series away from home. However, the biggest concern for them is going to be the huge amount of inexperience in their bowling attack due to the absence of several frontline bowlers.

South Africa, at home, have been very impressive over the past two years or so. They have not lost an ODI series since 2014 with wins in their last four series against India, West Indies, New Zealand and England. And although they have been hit with the loss of de Villiers and Morris, they still have plenty of strong batsmen in their line-up who could expose the inexperience in this Australian seam attack.

Australia have a slightly higher win percentage in ODIs than South Africa. But we feel that the latter, who have the home advantage in their favor, have a better chance to win this opening game of the five-match series.