Australia in SA – old rivalry opens old wounds
WHEN the Proteas launch their 2023/24 international season with three KFC T20 Internationals (T20Is) against old rivals Australia in August, they will be looking to right some of the wrongs from the past.
The series is scheduled to take place at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium in Durban and will be one South Africa will be hoping to make a strong statement against an opponent that has a formidable record in the format in this country.
The Aussies only ever lost one T20I series on these shores – a defeat back in 2008/09 when a Johan Botha-captained team were 2-0 victors thanks to inspiring displays by the skipper himself as well as Roelof van der Merwe, Robin Peterson, Wayne Parnell, Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel.
They had also won a one-off T20I against the Aussies in Joburg during their 2006 tour, but that was only the sixth ever 20-over international, when the format was in its infancy.
It has been a lean time since then with four visits yielding three wins and a draw. The tied scoreline was in a two-match sequence in 2011 when Hashim Amla was in charge. The Proteas lost match one in Cape Town despite Jean-Paul Duminy hitting a half century, but they roared back in Johannesburg thanks to a strong allround showing by Rusty Theron and Lonwabo Tsotsobe, who delivered one of the best spells of seam bowling by a left-hand quick in national colours.
Rain heavily affected the 2014 match-up between the sides when Quinton de Kock was named player of the series, but David Warner, Aaron Finch and the bowlers ensured the Australians still took the series 2-0 against the Faf du Plessis-led hosts.
Du Plessis was again in charge when the most memorable contest between the sides was played out in 2016. Steve Smith was at the helm for the visitors, but could do little to stop David Miller and Imran Tahir putting SA 1-0 up in match one in Durban.
The Proteas captain played a gem of an innings in match two in Joburg, but 70s by Warner and Glenn Maxwell carried Australia over the line in a lastball thriller. Amla fell just short of a century in match three in Cape Town where Smith, Watson and Maxwell clinched the series, four balls to spare.
On Australia’s last visit for a T20I series, De Kock’s Proteas heavily lost the first and third games when the tourists were inspired by Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc, Warner and Finch. The SA captain did make 70 in what turned out to be a consolation win in between.
This time around Aiden Markram will be in charge for the Proteas and looking to win a T20I series against Australia on home soil for the first time in 12 years. Tickets for the three T20Is at Kingsmead are already on sale with prices starting at R100 for adults. Children under the age of 7 are allowed free entry, while several discounts are available for students/ scholars as well as pensioners.
The 20-over matches will be followed by a five-match Betway OneDay International series that will be played in the central areas of the country.