Williams Replaces Maphaka in South Africa’s ODI Squad for Australia Series

South Africa have suffered another blow to their pace attack before the three-match ODI series against Australia. Kwena Maphaka has been ruled out after picking up a right hamstring strain, adding to the team’s growing list of injured fast bowlers.

Kagiso Rabada, Ottneil Baartman and Lungi Ngidi are also dealing with hamstring problems, leaving South Africa short of pace options.

Considering Maphaka’s injury, Lizaad Williams has now been called up to the squad, as he also has decent experience in international cricket.

Talking about the forced changes, Rabada was already unavailable when the squad was picked, while Baartman and Ngidi suffered injuries later and were replaced by Duan Jansen and Nqobani Mokoena.

The injury problems have left South Africa with a pace group that has limited ODI experience. Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch are expected to take on bigger roles, while Gerald Coetzee is back in the ODI setup after last featuring in the format in November 2023. Duan Jansen and Mokoena have played only four ODIs combined, while Williams has eight ODI appearances since making his debut in 2021.

Meanwhile, South Africa’s concerns could continue beyond the Australia series, as the team is still waiting to know whether Rabada and Ngidi will recover in time for the three-Test series beginning on October 9.

Talking about the ODI fixtures, the series will begin in Durban on September 24, followed by the second match in Johannesburg on September 27 and the third in Potchefstroom on September 30.

Australia will then play a two-day tour match against a South Africa XI on October 3 and 4. Afterwards, the Test series will start in Durban, with the second Test scheduled in Gqeberha on October 18 and the third in Cape Town on October 27.

Updated South Africa Squad for Australia ODI Series

Temba Bavuma (capt), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Nqobani Mokoena, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Lizaad Williams.