Nathan Ellis and Joel Davies have been ruled out of Australia’s third ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom, further thinning a tour already hit by soft-tissue injuries as Pat Cummins eyes a return.
Cricket.com.au reported Ellis suffered a left side strain after bowling only four overs and leaving the field mid-innings in Sunday’s 32-run defeat at the Wanderers, while substitute fielder Davies strained his right hamstring. Jack Edwards, who took a maiden ODI five-wicket haul in Ellis’s absence, is being monitored with a hamstring concern but travelled with the squad to Potchefstroom.
South Africa have already sealed the series 2-0. The dead rubber is scheduled for Wednesday night at JB Marks Oval, with the first ball listed for 9:30pm AEST (1:30pm local), weather permitting.
What the absences mean
Ellis has been Australia’s standout white-ball seamer on the African tour. Cricket.com.au noted his 22 ODI wickets this year (at 17.22) are topped by only two bowlers globally, and that he has more than six weeks to recover before Australia’s next white-ball block — a home series against England in November.
Davies had been carrying the drinks through the Zimbabwe and South Africa ODIs and may have contended for a debut if fit. If Edwards is also unavailable, Australia would be down to about 12 fit players for the dead rubber, cricket.com.au reported, with Test squad arrivals potentially needed as substitute fielders.
Josh Inglis has already flown home with a broken finger after the first ODI in Durban, and Billy Stanlake suffered a side strain during the preceding Zimbabwe series.
Cummins and Starc expected back
With Ellis out, ESPNcricinfo expects Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to return to the XI unless selectors keep Josh Hazlewood for a third straight ODI. Cummins would be playing his first ODI since November 2024.
ESPNcricinfo’s probable Australia XI listed Mitch Marsh (capt), Travis Head, Cooper Connolly, Alex Carey, Matt Renshaw, Cameron Green, Jack Edwards, Xavier Bartlett, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Adam Zampa — with Ollie Peake a candidate if Edwards cannot play. Green has not bowled on tour because of a shoulder concern, Matthew Renshaw told cricket.com.au.
South Africa can experiment
Having wrapped the series, Proteas coach Shukri Conrad told media to “fasten your seatbelt” ahead of selection, with ESPNcricinfo tipping Tony de Zorzi and Ryan Rickelton to return and young seamer Nqobani Mokoena in line for a start. Left-arm spin, led by captain Keshav Maharaj, has been the series’ decisive weapon against Australia’s middle order.
Weather is a genuine factor: ESPNcricinfo flagged a grim Highveld forecast with heavy rain possible and the risk of a delayed or reduced match.
Australia will want to avoid a 3-0 whitewash and gather one more data point in 2027 World Cup conditions before the focus shifts to the Test series that starts in Durban on October 9.
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