• SA vs Aus 2nd ODI preview

    After a seesaw affair in the opening game, the two sides will do it all again in Perth on Sunday.

    The momentum shifted from one team to the other in the first ODI, before Australia ended up winning. There were some good performances from individuals in both camps, but the respective captains will be more concerned with fixing the mistakes.

    The only forced change for the second ODI is that George Bailey will take the reins in place of Michael Clarke, who suffered another hamstring strain. Steve Smith, the former player from their recent tour of the UAE, will come into the middle order. He will also offer another bowling option with his under-rated leg-spin.

    South Africa also have a lot of thinking to do. They struggled at the death with the ball and may be tempted to bring Kyle Abbott into the mix as a specialist when the slog is on. The top-order also struggled, but they will be trusted to get it right. The only batting change may see the exciting Rilee Rossouw replace Farhaan Behardien.

    Players to watch:

    Faf du Plessis looked good for his 31 in the first game before playing a poor stroke. He will be determined to bat deep in the second ODI and help his side level the series. For Australia, David Warner looked dangerous for his 46 in the first game. He was caught on the boundary while on top of the bowlers. If he improves his shot selection then he could take the game away from the Proteas on Sunday.

    Prediction:

    The Proteas have a good record at the WACA and this group of players usually bounce back after a poor performance. For this reason, South Africa should be much better on Sunday and level the five-match series.

    Photo: Backpagepix

    Post by

    sachsm