Today at 8:30 GMT, or 3:30 a.m. EST, Australia and South Africa will butt heads for the third test of their ODI at Newlands in Cape Town. Live stream the rubber match for free by clicking this link.
South Africa was beaten soundly in the first matchup between these two sides, with Australia's hard-bowling beast Mitchell Johnson, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy and Hashim Amla of the Proteas dominated the second go-round to even the series.
Dale Steyn of South Africa put on a bowling show of his own to rival Johnson's, and helped his squad thrive without key member Wayne Parnell. Kyle Abbot, assuming Parnell's spot, took 12 wickets his last time out for the South Africans, so they have found a capable fill-in. They will also welcome back opening batsman AlviroPetersen from an illness that caused him to miss the last Test.
South Africa hasn't lost a Test in Cape Town in nearly a decade, so Johnson will have a tall task ahead of him. Still, if their opening match win wasn't evidence enough, Johnson's an electric enough talent to shut down any squad's attack.
With the sticks, Aussie batsman David Warner has eclipse 50 three times, but the remainder of the order have all hit the mark at least once.
Still, confidence and momentum are in South Africa's favor. "We've lost one series in eight years, that needs to be embraced," South African skipper Graeme Smith said. "We have an exciting opportunity ahead us over the next five days. It would be a big feather in our caps if we can come back and win this series."
STARTING SQUADS:
South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla,Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (w/k), JP Duminy, Dean Elgar, RyanMcLaren, Rory Kleinveldt, Kyle Abbott, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn,Morne Morkel.
Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (w/k), Jackson Bird, AlexDoolan, Ryan Harris, Moises Henriques, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steve Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson, James Faulkner.
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