Pat Cummins’ men are back in action in India with a crucial match in Lucknow between two of the world’s top-four ranked one-day teams.
Cameron Green is expected to be replaced by a fit again Marcus Stoinis in Australia’s World Cup team to face a suddenly formidable South Africa.
Australia lost the final three games to relinquish the five-match ODI series in South Africa and now moves to India without in form opener Travis Head but with other big names returning ahead of the World Cup.
Travis Head’s central role in Australia’s World Cup plans is in severe doubt after he suffered a fractured hand during the tourists’ heavy defeat to South Africa at Centurion
David Warner got Australia off to a flying start in pursuit of South Africa’s mammoth total,but was run out in calamitous circumstances as the visitors lost eight wickets for just 60 runs to lose a match for the first time in the series.
Not selected in the original XI,Labuschagne replaced Cameron Green during the run chase and hit an unbeaten 80 as Australia reeled in the Proteas’ 222.
A blistering 91 off 48 balls from Travis Head anchored Australia’s T20 sweep of South Africa and strengthened his claim to be an opener at next month’s 50-over World Cup.
In-form Australian all-rounder Mitch Marsh has so far smashed 171 runs off 88 balls for the T20 series against South Africa without being dismissed.
Newly-minted T20 captain Mitchell Marsh blasted an unbeaten 92 from 49 balls before Tanveer Sangha bagged four wickets as Australia won by 111 runs in Durban.
With a number of stars absent,Mitchell Marsh’s first outing as Australian T20 captain will see the debut of an exciting left-arm quick,a brutal stroke maker and a talented all-rounder.
Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc will miss the tour of South Africa,coming as Mitch Marsh’s leadership skills were recognised with captaincy in the ODI and Twenty20 formats.