The Proteas have opted to field two spinners after four changes were made to the starting XI in Sunday’s fourth ODI against Australia at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.
Aaron Phangiso and Tabraiz Shamsi have been brought back into the team, along with seamer Kyle Abbott, as senior bowlers Dale Steyn, Imran Tahir and Kagiso Rabada all take a break as the Proteas have already won the series 3-0.
The other change is injury-enforced, with Farhaan Behardien replacing David Miller (groin) in the middle-order.
A strong wind on Sunday and a dry pitch is set to suit the slow bowlers, and in conjunction with the spinners, Behardien’s “floaters” could also play a role on such a surface.
But for Behardien, it will also be a chance to showcase his batting prowess in the middle-order following Miller’s brilliant 118 not out to guide the Proteas to a four-wicket victory in Durban last week. Behardien essentially lost his place to Rilee Rossouw, who impressed as an opener in the first two games, but only got 18 off 21 balls in a pressure situation batting at No 4 at Kingsmead.
Miller will miss Sunday’s game and Wednesday’s final day-night ODI at Newlands, so Behardien needs to state his case for a starting berth going forward.
The Proteas bowlers will have first use of the track after Australian captain Steve Smith won the toss and chose to bat first. The visitors made just one change to their team, with paceman Scott Boland coming in for Daniel Worrall.
Play starts at 10am on Sunday.
Teams For Port Elizabeth
South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis (captain), Rilee Rossouw, JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Dwaine Pretorius, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kyle Abbott, Aaron Phangiso, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Australia: David Warner, Aaron Finch, Steve Smith (captain), George Bailey, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade, John Hastings, Adam Zampa, Chris Tremain, Scott Boland.
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