No rest for Aussies after ODI hammering

AUSTRALIA will prioritise continuing to improve their white-ball cricket ahead of giving players a rest after losing their one-day international series opener in South Africa.

The tourists lost by 74 runs to a depleted Proteas side in a day-night clash in Paarl played amid smoke from nearby bushfires.

While South Africa opted to rest Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen for the ODIs, Australia have retained a virtually full-strength squad.

The three-match series is somewhat of an outlier in a year dominated by T20 cricket in the lead-up to Australia hosting the World Cup in October.

The next 50-over World Cup in India doesn’t take place until 2023. Australia nonetheless don’t intend to rest players unnecessarily as a long summer stretches on, with home ODIs against New Zealand to follow next month.

“We’re still a team that’s developing, trying to keep improving all the time,” captain Aaron Finch said.

“It’s important that when you’re on a road to improvement and trying to find your best combinations and give guys opportunities to establish themselves in the side, you give them the respect of continuing to stick with that for a little while as well.

“As soon as you start chopping and changing all the time, I think that’s when guys are looking over their shoulder for their spot.”

Jhye and Kane Richardson, Matthew Wade and Ashton Agar are also in the ODI squad in South Africa.

The tourists were in control when South Africa collapsed to 3-48, but the Proteas recovered well to finish 7-291, piloted by an assured Heinrich Klaasen (123 not out). Australia were in reasonable shape at 3-174 in reply before collapsing to be all out for 217 with 29 balls left.

Steve Smith (76) and Marnus Labuschagne (41), each made good starts but as was the case in Australia’s T20 series victory over South Africa, the middle order was found wanting.