Australia's month-long tour of South Africa begins with a Twenty20 in Cape Town, a match that will be South Africa's first international in any format since March 25. During that same period, Australia have been to Bangladesh for a one-day series and Sri Lanka for Tests, ODIs and Twenty20s. They haven't been old, though, and by comparison South Africa will have to shed their rust as quickly as possible.
They have a new captain, Hashim Amla, standing in for the injured AB de Villiers, while star players Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn are being rested. Still, Twenty20 is a format that South Africa have mastered significantly better than their opponents in recent years. Australia is trying to find their best Twenty20 outfit, under the captaincy of Cameron White. One of those is the wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who has benefited from Brad Haddin's current retirement from the format and Tim Paine's broken finger.
The side is also in a state of flux off the field: Troy Cooley is the acting coach for this trip after Tim Nielsen's resignation following the tour of Sri Lanka, while the selection panel is temporary while replacements are found. Five members of the Twenty20 squad will fly home ahead of the ODIs, so quite how much force the team could carry if they win in the shortest format is questionable. But kicking off the tour with a win would be a sufficient start.
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They have a new captain, Hashim Amla, standing in for the injured AB de Villiers, while star players Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn are being rested. Still, Twenty20 is a format that South Africa have mastered significantly better than their opponents in recent years. Australia is trying to find their best Twenty20 outfit, under the captaincy of Cameron White. One of those is the wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, who has benefited from Brad Haddin's current retirement from the format and Tim Paine's broken finger.
The side is also in a state of flux off the field: Troy Cooley is the acting coach for this trip after Tim Nielsen's resignation following the tour of Sri Lanka, while the selection panel is temporary while replacements are found. Five members of the Twenty20 squad will fly home ahead of the ODIs, so quite how much force the team could carry if they win in the shortest format is questionable. But kicking off the tour with a win would be a sufficient start.
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Tennis News
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