Australia vs South Africa Match Preview & Where to Watch Live? South Africa tour of Australia 2025, 1st T20I

Australia will take on South Africa in the first T20I game on Sunday, August 10. The two teams will meet after the epic World Test Championship (WTC) Final in June, in which the latter went on to stun the former by clinching the title by five wickets. Since that showdown, Australia has displayed its ruthlessness by thrashing West Indies 3-0 in Tests & 5-0 in T20Is. South Africa played two Tests against Zimbabwe & won 2-0. However, they lost a Tri-nation T20 series, featuring Zimbabwe & New Zealand, to the Kiwis in the final.

However, the Proteas were without several first-choice players like Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, and Marco Jansen. All the players expect Jansen return to face Australia in the T20 series. The three matches promise to be a cracking affair, as both teams have firepower. South Africa is set to play 20 T20Is before the T20 World Cup 2026 event. All the matches from here will be crucial in building to the showpiece event.

AUS vs SA: Match Preview

After losing to South Africa in the WTC Final, the Aussies have turned a corner by showing utter dominance. Although some would argue that the wins came against a weakened Windies attack, the hosts have shown they are aiming to win yet another silverware in the T20 World Cup 2026 event. Against the Windies, they also unearthed a new star in Mitchell Owen. The 23-year-old grabbed his chance well by plundering a 50 on his T20I debut.

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Tim David also showed his destructive form by slamming Australia's quickest T20I ton, which came off just 37 balls. The hosts' batting looks formidable, and South Africans will have their task cut out to stop them by going berserk. The visitors have a balanced bowling attack, with Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Kwena Maphaka, and Nandre Burger in it.

Keshav Maharaj is not playing the T20Is, and in his place, South Africa has Senuran Muthusamy. Rabada will be vital as he always plays his A game against Australia. After a good two-month break, the pacer is raring to go. Batting looks solid for the visitors, with Aiden Markram, Rickelton, Stubbs, Lhuan Dre-Pretorious & Dewald Brevis in it.

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