Australia and South Africa will go against each other in the first ODI of their three-match series on August 19, 2025, at Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns. This series comes right after an exciting T20I series between the two teams, which Australia won 2-1. The ODI series holds importance as both teams are in transition phases, with several new faces getting opportunities to prove themselves.
Australia vs South Africa 1st ODI Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Australia vs South Africa ODI Series 2025 (1st ODI) |
| Date | Tuesday, August 19, 2025 |
| Time | 2:30 PM Local |
| Venue | Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns |
| Toss Won By | To Be Updated |
Recent Form
Australia (Last 5 ODI Matches)
| Match | Opposition | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champions Trophy Semi-Final | India | Lost | 4 wickets |
| Champions Trophy | Afghanistan | No Result | – |
| Champions Trophy | England | Won | 5 wickets |
| Australia tour of Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Lost | 174 runs |
| Australia tour of Sri Lanka | Sri Lanka | Lost | 49 runs |
South Africa (Last 5 ODI Matches)
| Match | Opposition | Result | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champions Trophy Semi-Final | New Zealand | Lost | 50 runs |
| Champions Trophy | England | Won | 7 wickets |
| Champions Trophy | Australia | Abandoned | – |
| Champions Trophy | Afghanistan | Won | 107 runs |
| Tri-Nation Series | Pakistan | Lost | 6 wickets |
Both teams reached the Champions Trophy semi-finals but fell short of making it to the final. The Proteas have been more consistent overall, while Australia’s form has been mixed, particularly struggling in Asian conditions.
Head-to-Head Record (Last 5 ODI Meetings)
| Date | Venue | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 25, 2025 | Rawalpindi | Match Abandoned |
| Nov 16, 2023 | Kolkata | Australia won by 3 wickets |
| Oct 12, 2023 | Lucknow | South Africa won by 134 runs |
| Sep 17, 2023 | Johannesburg | South Africa won by 122 runs |
| Sep 15, 2023 | Centurion | South Africa won by 164 runs |
South Africa leads the recent head-to-head record 3-1, with one abandoned match. However, this time they are playing away from home, where conditions will be different. Australia has a perfect record at Cazaly’s Stadium, having won all five ODI matches played here without a single defeat.
Pitch Analysis and Predicted Score
Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns has hosted five ODI matches previously. The pitch typically offers early assistance for fast bowlers with swing and bounce. However, as the match progresses, it tends to flatten out, making batting easier.
Key Pitch Stats:
- Average first innings score: 232 runs
- Teams batting second have won 3 out of 5 matches
- Highest score: 267/5 (Australia vs New Zealand, 2022)
- Lowest score: 82 (New Zealand vs Australia, 2022)
Based on the recent T20I at this venue where South Africa scored 172/7 and Australia chased it down with two wickets to spare, the pitch seems to favor bowlers. The conditions suggest this won’t be a high-scoring encounter.
- Toss Factor: Teams would prefer to bowl first after winning the toss, as the pitch offers early assistance to bowlers and chasing has proven more successful here.
- Predicted Score Range: 240-280 runs
Players to Watch
Australia
 |  |  |
| Travis Head | Mitchell Marsh | Josh Hazlewood |
- Travis Head: The explosive opener struggled in the recent T20I series against South Africa, managing only modest scores. However, he remains a player to watch as he can change the game’s momentum if he gets going at the top of the order.
- Mitchell Marsh: The captain and key all-rounder brings leadership and balance to the team.
- Josh Hazlewood: The leading fast bowler has an excellent ODI record and will be crucial in exploiting the early conditions at Cairns.
South Africa
 |  |  |  |
| Dewald Brevis | Temba Bavuma | Aiden Markram | Kagiso Rabada |
- Dewald Brevis: The young explosive batter was outstanding in the recent T20I series against Australia, particularly in the second T20I where he smashed an unbeaten 125 off 56 balls.
- Temba Bavuma: The captain is returning to ODI cricket after a break and his leadership will be tested in away conditions. His steady batting approach provides the anchor the team needs in the middle order.
- Aiden Markram: One of the most reliable batters in South Africa’s side.
- Kagiso Rabada: His new-ball bowling and death-over skills make him South Africa’s trump card.
Team Changes and Squad News
Australia will miss Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell, who have retired from ODIs. Mitchell Owen and Matt Short are injured. However, the biggest blow might be Pat Cummins being rested for the series.
South Africa welcomes back captain Temba Bavuma. Also, Dewald Brevis might retain his place after his outstanding performances in the T20I series, where he showcased his ability to take on the Australian bowling attack with confidence.
- Australia squad: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Aaron Hardie, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Adam Zampa
- South Africa squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Aiden Markram, Kwena Maphaka, Senuran Muthusamy, Keshav Maharaj, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Prenelan Subrayen
Win Prediction between Australia vs South Africa 1st ODI
- Prediction: South Africa to win
South Africa enters this match with several advantages despite playing away from home. Their recent head-to-head dominance (in ODI) over Australia and more consistent ODI form give them confidence. The Proteas have a strong batting lineup with depth and experience.
If South Africa wins the toss and chooses to bowl first, they could put Australia under early pressure with their quality pace attack led by Rabada. Australia’s perfect record at this venue remains their biggest strength, but their inconsistent recent form and the absence of key players like Cummins, Smith, and Maxwell could prove costly.
The match promises to be closely contested, but South Africa’s superior recent form, strong batting lineup, and ability to exploit bowling-friendly conditions early in the innings make them slight favorites. If they get to bowl first as preferred, their chances of winning will increase a lot!