Australia vs. South Africa 1st ODI: Date, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

Australia and South Africa begin their five-match ODI series in Perth on Friday.  It’s a chance for South Africa to get a first-hand look at some of the conditions they might encounter during next year’s World Cup.

Read on to check out all the vital viewing information and a preview of the first one-day international.

Venue: Western Australia Cricket Association Ground, Perth

Commences: Friday, Nov. 14

Start time: 3:20 a.m. GMT and 11:20 a.m. local

Live on: SuperSport (South Africa), Channel 9 (Australia), Sky Sports (UK), Willow TV (USA and Canada) and Star Sports (India)

Weather: It's all clear on the weather front, according to AccuWeather.com. Temperatures will be a mild 23 degrees Celsius with sun expected for the whole day.

Overview

As far as World Cup preparation goes, it doesn’t get better than playing in Australia. The first ODI between Australia in South Africa is in Perth, but the benefit from playing here is only partial. South Africa won’t play any of their fixtures at this ground, so the testing of conditions is somewhat superficial.

Faf du Plessis was quoted by ESPNCricinfo as saying that the benefit is also getting to see their potential semi-final opposition first-hand. He also reckons the two sides are very similar in their approach, saying:

"

That's the great thing about playing Australia. We play a very similar style of cricket on the field. We are competitive. We like to get into each other's faces. It just so happens that this year, the two countries have had cause to make contact more than other times.

"

More contact indeed. The two teams played a Test series in South Africa earlier this year and were involved in an ODI tri-series in Zimbabwe a few months ago, a series where South Africa triumphed. The two teams also hold very similar records in recent ODI bilateral series, with both teams having lost just one series out of their last five outings. Both teams are in good form, both teams have individual players who are in solid form and both teams like to have a go at each other.

That’s got all the makings of a spicy contest. But it’s not all about rivalry. South Africa have been dealt a big blow with the news of JP Duminy being out for the series. He has been replaced by Farhaan Behardien, and the pressure on South Africa’s top order has been increased as a result. The middle order has been brittle as of late, and players like David Miller and Behardien will have to spark.

Duminy’s absence also throws a spanner into the bowling works. He has become South Africa’s go-to all-rounder and could make up the overs and take pressure off the front-line bowlers. Now all of South Africa’s bowlers will have to bowl 10 overs, unless AB de Villiers once again decides to send off a few deliveries.

The WACA’s surface will aid the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Mitchell Johnson, and the first match has all the ingredients for an enticing contest.

Key players

Australia

David Warner was one of the few Australian batsmen to perform during Australia's disastrous tour of the UAE recently. He's in good form, but he doesn't have a great average against South Africa. He's scored two 50s in seven ODIs against them but averages just 28.71. This is Warner's chance to change that.

South Africa

Dale Steyn has never played an ODI at the WACA in Perth, but as a player in the prime of his career and the leader of the South African attack, he'll be crucial in stemming the flow of runs up front.

Squads

Australia

David Warner, Michael Clarke, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Marsh, Kane Richardson, Matthew Wade, Shane Watson, George Bailey, Aaron Finch, Mitchell Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith

South Africa

Rilee Rossouw, Robin Peterson, Kyle Abbott, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Farhaan Behardien, Ryan McLaren, Morne Morkel, AB de Villiers

All stats via ESPNCricinfo, and all quotes obtained first-hand, unless otherwise stated.