Alex Carey says Australia are excited by the challenge posed by a formidable Proteas team when they meet in the Champions Trophy for the first time in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
Australia, winners in 2006 and 2009, chased down 352, the highest target in tournament history, against England in Lahore in a Group B game on Saturday.
Carey made a brilliant 69 alongside Man of the Match Josh Inglis, who scored his maiden ODI hundred, to seal a five-wicket win.
The Proteas overwhelmed Afghanistan by 107 runs in a clinical performance in Karachi.
“I think South Africa are playing really well in one-day cricket and look like they’ve got a great balance across their 11 players,” the 33-year-old Carey said on Monday. “So, another exciting opportunity for us coming off the back of a great game against England, play with a lot of freedom, take the game on.”
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Australia and South Africa have never met in the Champions Trophy, and the Proteas hold a clear advantage after winning nine of their past 12 ODIs against them.
Australia are also missing world-renowned pace trio Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc.
“Look, it’s an inexperienced bowling attack, there’s no hiding away from that. In and around that we’ve got some experience with our leg-spinner Adam Zampa and Glenn Maxwell,” Carey said.
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The pace trio of Spencer Johnson, Ben Dwarshuis and Nathan Ellis went for 171 runs for three wickets between them in 27 overs as England scored 351-8 in their 50 overs.
However, Carey backed a strong Australian batting lineup that includes Travis Head.
“We’ve got Steve Smith who’s a fantastic captain,” Carey said. “I think if we are to bat first throughout the tournament, I’ll back our boys to defend.”
“Travis will try to smack them at the top with Matthew Short. You’ve got Smith and Marnus [Labuschagne] through the middle and then hopefully set it up for Maxwell to go big at the end.
“We know they’re a great team … but I feel like our confidence is high and we’re really excited for tomorrow,” he said.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semi-finals, with hosts Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and New Zealand in Group A.
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