Australia tour of South Africa preview - A historic tour beckons for the kangaroos.

As the Australian tour of South Africa begins on the 24th of September, the word SANDPAPER resurfaces. The 2018 tour was known for more controversies off the field rather than on it as Steve Smith and David Warner faced international bans and Australia lost the series too by a humiliating 3-1 margin. Since then, a lot of transition has happened and come the first test in October, a delicious battle awaits as two fiery sides go head to head 

Pat Cummins will make a long-awaited return to the national one-day side as preparation for Australia's three-Test tour as they prepare for the all important WTC as the fight for the top 2 resumes. With a home test series against New Zealand and an all important away tour to India coming up, Cummins and co will be keen to make giant strides in the right direction. 

“I'm not sure I should say this, but the focus is the Test series.” "So with a lot of the (upcoming) white-ball (matches), how we play that would be with an eye to the red ball "I'd imagine (I would play) one, two or maximum three games out of those six (ODIs)."

South Africa's pace stocks have taken a beating already with the absence of Kagiso Rabada and Nandre Burger. Lutho Sipamla, who was picked for the tri-series in Namibia, was withdrawn due to a hamstring issue. With the test squad yet to be announced, the proteas will hope for the return of Kagiso Rabada as he was instrumental in setting up a famous win in the final of the WTC last year.

The three-match ODI series will be played from September 24 to 30, with games in Durban, Johannesburg and Potchefstroom while the test series, the all important test series starts from 9th of October in Durban. A fascinating contest on display as two teams, a bit more vulnerable from last time, go head to head in one riveting series. 

South Africa ODI squad: Temba Bavuma (c), Corbin Bosch, Matthew Breetzke, Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Bjorn Fortuin, Duan Jansen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Nqobani Mokoena, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs.

Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Marsh, Xavier Bartlett, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Joel Davies, Jack Edwards, Nathan Ellis, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Oliver Peake, Matthew Renshaw, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa.

Australia test squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cooper Connolly, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc.