Cape Town - Australia have won the toss and elected to bowl in their T20 World Cup opener against the Proteas.
The Proteas decided to go into the match with two spinners in Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi, who was declared fit to play following a groin injury.
Coach Mark Boucher has also gone with an extra batsman with Heinrich Klaasen in to bat at No 6 and All-rounder Dwaine Pretorius coming in at No 7.
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Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje have both been selected and will hope to strike early against the dangerous, but out-of-form Aussie openers of Aaron Finch and David Warner.
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The Proteas come into the match with a lot of confidence following a string of top performances in this format.
However, the South Africans aren’t considered one of the favourites for the tournament. But they are keen to embrace that underdog tag.
💬 "The one thing that we are missing is a World Cup."
— T20 World Cup (@T20WorldCup) October 23, 2021
The Proteas are all fired up ahead of the start of their #T20WorldCup 2021 campaign 🔥 #AUSvSA pic.twitter.com/drovpChz33
“The team has been good and we have had the luxury of playing together for a while now. We understand each and the results have done well for our confidence,” captain Temba Bavuma said at the toss.
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“We have certain expectations of ourselves as a team and will be trying to live up to that.”
TEAMS
Proteas
Temba Bavuma (capt), Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi.
Australia
Aaron Finch (capt), David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
IOL SPORT
