From David Miller’s impressive aggregate to Imran Tahir’s outstanding economy rate, here are some interesting numbers ahead of South Africa’s ODI series against Australia.

• Among South Africa’s current ODI squad, Faf du Plessis has the most runs against Australia. Almost 800 of his 4,500-plus ODI runs have come against the Aussies. With Hashim Amla and JP Duminy sidelined, Quinton de Kock is second with 546.

 

• De Kock, too, boasts the Proteas’ highest ODI score against the Australians. His entertaining 178, which spanned a mere 113 deliveries and featured 16 fours and 11 sixes, carried the hosts to a convincing victory in September 2016’s series opener at SuperSport Park in Centurion.

 

• David Miller’s ODI average of 46.33 against the Aussies is almost 10 runs superior to his overall aggregate of 36.97. He sports 417 runs in 13 innings, including one century and two half-tons, against the old enemy.

 

• De Kock has also struck South Africa’s most ODI sixes against Australia. He, of course, landed 11 of the 15 in that near double-century in Centurion and the other four elsewhere. His closest rival, currently, is Du Plessis with nine sixes.

 

• Dale Steyn has the existing squad’s most ODI wickets – and best bowling average – against Australia. His 42 wickets in two dozen appearances have come at a 29.14 average, almost three runs more than his career 26.16.

 

• Excluding Tabraiz Shamsi, who has played just two ODIs against the Aussies, Imran Tahir has South Africa’s best ODI economy rate against them. Each of the leg-spinner’s 109 overs across 13 innings has averaged a respectable 4.72.

 

• In Duminy and Amla’s absence, Steyn has the most ODI experience against the Australians. His two dozen matches are six more than Du Plessis’ 18. Intriguingly, more than a fifth (55) of Jonty Rhodes’ 245 ODIs were played against Australia.

 

• South Africa have met Australia 96 times in ODI cricket. The Proteas have won 45 and lost 47, with three ties and one no-result. Their last 10 clashes have brought the South Africans six victories. Their first 10, from 1992 to 1994, yielded the same number of wins for the Proteas.