He admits hosts India and defending champions England will be difficult to beat, but Proteas captain Temba Bavuma insists the national team will be wary of all teams competing at the Cricket World Cup.

All sides in the tournament will face each of the other nine teams in a round robin format in the first round, competing for only four available spots in the playoffs.

And while the Proteas will be on their toes against some of the traditionally stronger sides, Bavuma said ahead of their departure at the weekend that they were aiming for consistency in an attempt to book their place in the knockout stages.

In order to ensure they progressed safely beyond the round robin phase, they needed to play their best cricket every time they stepped on the park.

“India, as the host country, are playing in their own conditions and they’ll know what to expect, so you obviously can’t look past them. And England obviously are the reigning champions,” Bavuma said.

“But all the teams, if they play well, can really have a shot at the World Cup.”

Learning from defeat

At last year’s T20 World Cup in Australia, the SA team crashed out in the first round after a shock defeat to the Netherlands.

Bavuma admitted that loss had been weighing on their minds, and they were desperate not to allow any complacency to creep in against the lower-ranked sides at next month’s 50-over showpiece.

ALSO READ: ‘Fearless’ Proteas confident of challenging for World Cup title

“Those conversations have been happening (within the Proteas squad) since last year’s T20 World Cup,” the skipper said.

“We’ve been challenging ourselves and each other to make sure that awareness is there and we’re not taking things for granted.

“But we’ve also needed to find actual, practical ways as to what we need to do to keep that awareness up and ensure that our eye is on the ball and we try stay in the present moment as much as we can.”

South Africa, targeting their maiden Cricket World Cup title, will face Sri Lanka in their opening match of the tournament in Delhi on 7 October. The final will be played in Ahmedabad on 19 November.

Playing a more aggressive brand of cricket under coach Rob Walter, the Proteas are hoping their new approach will put them in the driving seat at the Cricket World Cup.

The national side have won eight of their 12 ODI matches this year, and they hit back from 2-0 down to beat Australia 3-2 in their home series earlier this month.

And while they haven’t been as consistent as their supporters might like, they have secured some crushing victories and shown the ability to take games away from their opposition.

ALSO READ: Flexibility will be key for hard-hitting Proteas at Cricket World Cup

“If I look at the way we’ve gone about our business this year, I think it’s been in stark contrast to what people have known from us as a team,” Proteas captain Temba Bavuma said on Saturday, before the squad left for India.

“We’ve spoken a lot about being bold, being fearless, being positive and always looking for moments to move the game in our favour, and that’s what the guys have really challenged themselves and each other to go out and do on the field.

“So I think for me, that’s the biggest thing, and seeing the kind of performances the guys have put up has really given us strong confidence in each other, and that belief which I think we’ll need over the coming weeks.”

Focused on winning

While the sport had faced multiple off-field issues in recent years, Bavuma said the players had remained focus on the game, and he hoped this mindset would carry them to victory.

The SA men’s side have never reached a World Cup final in any format, but Bavuma believed they had the foundation and the skills required to end the nation’s lengthy trophy drought.

“As a group, our focus is on winning and playing good cricket, and we have the hope and understanding that if we do that consistently then everything else will fall into place,” the skipper said.

“At the end of the day, in the team, you’re there to bat or to bowl, and it’s about doing that job as well and as consistently as you can.”

South Africa have been hit by a double blow ahead of the Cricket World Cup, with fast bowler Anrich Nortje and all-rounder Sisanda Magala being ruled out of next month’s showpiece in India.

Nortje had a suspected stress fracture in his lower back, an injury he picked up in the second ODI against Australia earlier this month, Cricket South Africa (CSA) confirmed in a statement on Thursday.

Magala was unable to recover in time from a persistent knee injury which had sidelined him from most of the home tour against Australia.

“Ultimately it was decided that the risk associated with [Magala’s] inclusion in the squad outweighed his obvious value to the team,” CSA said.

Nortje and Magala were replaced by seamer Lizaad Williams and all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo in the 15-man Proteas squad.

“It’s hugely disappointing for Anrich and Sisanda to be missing out on the 50-over World Cup,” said Proteas coach Rob Walter.

“Both are quality players that add immense value to the Proteas. We sympathize in their omission and will continue to provide all the necessary support as they work towards their return to competitive action.

ALSO READ: Flexibility will be key for hard-hitting Proteas at Cricket World Cup

“This provides an opportunity for Andile and Lizaad on the global stage. Both players have been part of our winter programs, as well as having represented South Africa in the recent white-ball tour against Australia,” he added.

“They offer great skill sets and we’re excited to have them complete the 15-player squad for this year’s World Cup.”

The Proteas squad will leave for India on Saturday, and they will play their first World Cup match against Sri Lanka in Delhi on 7 October.

Proteas squad

Temba Bavuma (captain), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Lizaad Williams

The way the Proteas turned things around against Australia provided a real confidence boost ahead of next month’s World Cup, for both players and fans, and their last three matches again showed how well they can play when their aggressive approach pays off.

Given the freedom to play by head coach Rob Walter and his management team, the players have really stood up and delivered.

ALSO READ: Walter pleased with progress made by Proteas ahead of World Cup

But if they’re going to challenge for the global title, their results against Australia also suggest they’re going to have to find some balance if they are to achieve the consistency required to lift the trophy.

This year, South Africa have won eight of the 12 ODI games they have played, and their last three victories against Australia (which saw them secure a 3-2 series triumph on home soil) were decisive, with the hosts winning all three matches by more than 110 runs.

Taking a more aggressive approach to the game also has its downfalls, however, and the first half of their home tour was indicative of the destruction that can be caused when their plans don’t come off.

Versatile approach

Consistency, of course, is always going to be key at a global championship, both in the round robin stages and the playoffs.

So their new brand is exciting, no doubt, but they also need to have the ability to adjust their plans according to conditions and whatever they face from their opposition. Opening the throttle isn’t always the answer.

ALSO READ: Proteas ‘in a good space’ ahead of World Cup, says Klaasen

This won’t be news to the national side, and they obviously know how to play cricket, but they are playing a risky brand and it is a little concerning that it might come back to bite them.

If they get it right, they could go all the way and secure the world title in India, and their doubters will be left to eat their hats.

But if they slip, they’re going to hit the ground hard and it’s going to be difficult for them to recover against the best teams in the world.

Flashy cricket is good to watch, but at a World Cup, winning is more important and the global title is ultimately going to count more than the excitement they bring to the field.

Having turned the tables on Australia, hitting back from 2-0 down to win their five-match ODI series on home soil, Proteas coach Rob Walter says he is pleased with the improvement shown by his side over the last few weeks.

Returning to action after a five-month hiatus from international cricket, the Proteas were thumped 3-0 in the T20 series before losing the first two ODI matches against the world’s top-ranked side.

Bouncing back decisively, however, they went on to win the last three 50-over games on the trot, earning a 3-2 series victory and gaining some momentum and confidence ahead of next month’s World Cup in India.

“The main thing we wanted to do was make sure our batting unit got time in the middle and runs under the belt, and we wanted to make sure we exposed everyone in our bowling unit,” Walter said after their 122-run win in the series decider at the Wanderers on Sunday.

“That happened by default, really, and it didn’t happen exactly as we had planned because we had a couple of injuries along the way. But still, the key members of the team got time in the middle and got to play competitive cricket.”

Back on the park

The national squad had not been resting during the off-season, with many players competing in global T20 leagues and Cricket South Africa organising multiple training and build-up camps.

Walter, however, admitted they had needed to get back out on the field in order to shake off any rust and ensure the team were ready to hit their straps at the World Cup, where they will play their first game against Sri Lanka in Delhi on 7 October.

ALSO READ: Proteas searching for ‘cohesion and synergy’ at World Cup, says Bavuma

“There’s nothing like strong, competitive cricket out in the middle,” Walter said.

“We had good camps in the winter, we trained really hard, but nothing matches the pressure and competition you face against good quality sides. So from that point of view I’m happy.

“While we did drop a few catches, we didn’t drop any regulation catches. The ones we put down were tough chances, and we took some good ones along the way as well, so in all departments we certainly made progress and improved.”

All-rounder Marco Jansen shone with bat and ball on Sunday, playing a key role as the Proteas closed out a remarkable comeback to beat Australia 3-2 in their five-match ODI series.

Chasing 316 runs to win at the Wanderers, Australia got off to a good start, with opener Mitchell Marsh hitting 71 runs off 56 balls.

Marsh combined with Marnus Labuschagne (44) in a 90-run stand for the third wicket, and it looked like the tourists had laid a solid foundation to put up a fight.

The Australian captain fell in the 20th over, however, and Labuschagne was removed just nine balls later.

ALSO READ: Proteas ‘in a good space’ ahead of World Cup, says in-form Klaasen

And once they were gone, the rest of Australia’s batting line-up collapsed in a heap, as they lost their last six wickets for just 58 runs with Jansen and spin bowler Keshav Maharaj ripping through the order to secure a convincing 122-run victory for the hosts.

Jansen, playing his 14th ODI, returned career-best figures of 5/39, while Maharaj took 4/33, preventing the tourists from building any momentum in the second half of their innings.

Proteas innings

Earlier, after being sent in to bat, Aiden Markram laid a foundation for the Proteas, contributing 93 runs off 87 balls (including nine fours and three sixes).

Markram shared 109 runs for the fifth wicket with David Miller, who made 63.

Further down the order, Jansen added a quickfire 47 runs, while Andile Phehlukwayo contributed an unbeaten 39 at a strike rate of 205.26, pushing South Africa to a total of 315/9.

Spin bowler Adam Zampa was expensive, going for more than seven runs an over, but he did well to prevent the Proteas from gaining any further momentum at the death, returning 3/71 from his 10 overs.

Ultimately, however, it was a superb all-round effort from South Africa, who had trailed 2-0 after two matches in the ODI series, following their 3-0 defeat in the preceding T20 series.

They will now set their sights on the Cricket World Cup in India, where they will play their first match against Sri Lanka in Delhi on 7 October.

After finding superb form in the latter stages of their home tour, the Proteas will have gained some confidence as they target their first World Cup title in any format.

Having done a 180-degree turn, showcasing some of their best form ahead of the World Cup, Proteas batter Heinrich Klaasen believes the national cricket side have proved they are ready to challenge for the global trophy.

Klaasen hit a career-best 174 at a strike rate of 209.63 in Centurion on Friday, carrying South Africa to a 164-run victory over Australia, as the hosts drew the ODI series level at 2-2 with one game to play.

And while they struggled to hit their straps in the first half of the home tour, failing to build partnerships with the bat or take control with the ball, Klaasen felt they had since shown that they just needed to start clicking.

‘Nailing the basics’

“I think our batting unit is in a very good space,” said Klaasen, who shared a remarkable 222-run stand for the fifth wicket on Friday with David Miller (82 not out).

“All our guys are in form, we’ve got runs under our belts, and we’ve got a lot of experience in India (where the World Cup starts next month),” he added.

ALSO READ: Cricket Australia make neck guards mandatory against pace bowlers

“We’re fortunate enough to have played quite a bit of cricket over the years in India, so there’s a lot of knowledge in the batting and bowling units.

“For us it’s just to nail the basics and bring the intensity, which we did a lot better today.”

The series deciding fifth and final ODI between South Africa and Australia will be played at the Wanderers on Sunday, starting at 10am.

An incredible batting display from Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller set the Proteas on their way to a thumping 164-run series levelling win in the fourth ODI against Australia at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Friday evening.

Having lost the opening two ODI’s the Proteas have battled back superbly with two big wins and the teams are now set to battle out a decider in the fifth and final ODI at the Wanderers on Sunday.

ALSO READ: Proteas revitalised as they look to build momentum, says Maharaj

At Centurion Klaasen was the star of the show, producing an amazing display of power hitting, crunching 13 sixes and 13 fours on his way to a career best 174 off just 83 deliveries, which powered the Proteas to a record score at the ground of 416/5 in their 50-overs.

Miller proved to be the perfect partner for Klaasen, hammering an unbeaten 82 off 45 balls, smashing six fours and five maximums, as they shared in a South African record fifth wicket stand of 222 runs off just 92 balls that proved to be the match winning effort.

In their chase the shell-shocked Australians continued with their ultra-aggressive batting approach but lost regular wickets throughout their innings to be bowled out for 252 off 34.5 overs.

Lone ranger

Alex Carey was the lone ranger for the visitors as he clubbed his way 99 off 77 balls (9×4; 4×6) but in a cruel twist of fate he was last man out just one short of a deserved century after gloving a Kagiso Rabada ball behind for keeper Quinton de Kock to take a superb diving catch.

Lungi Ngidi was the pick of the Proteas bowlers with top figures of 4/51, while Rabada backed him up well claiming 3/41.

In the Proteas innings the top three got starts without being able to kick on as openers Reeza Hendricks (28) and De Kock (45) shared in a 64-run opening stand but both then fell as they looked to get going with the Proteas on 95/2.

Rassie van der Dussen (62) and Aiden Markram (8) combined for a stand of 25, before Klaasen arrived at the crease and helped Van Der Dussen take them to 194/4 in the 35^th over.

It was then the Klaasen and Miller show over the final 15 overs as they lit the pyrotechnics and absolutely entertained the Centurion crowd with a brilliant partnership that took the match away from the Aussies.

With just 10 days between tours, Proteas captain Laura Wolvaardt is confident the national women’s team will be ready to face New Zealand after returning home from Pakistan.

The SA side’s first ever tour of Pakistan came to a close on Thursday, with the Proteas having produced mixed results during their visit.

After losing 3-0 in the T20 series, they bounced back to win the ODI campaign 2-1, taking a step forward on the road to qualifying for the 2025 World Cup, with the series forming part of the ICC Women’s Championship.

ALSO READ: Proteas revitalised as they look to build momentum, says Maharaj

In the ODI series, Maizanne Kapp (150) and Sune Luus (127) topped the run-scoring charts, while Nadine de Klerk (eight scalps) was the leading wicket taker over the three matches.

And while they lost the last game of their tour, both their ODI victories were convincing, ensuring they stood up and delivered when it counted.

They had little time to celebrate their series victory, however, with a short turnaround ahead of the first of three ODI matches against New Zealand starting next weekend.

Wolvaardt, who was appointed interim captain for both tours, admitted the New Zealanders would offer an entirely different challenge to their recent hosts.

New conditions

“I don’t think the turnaround is too short. We’ve had quite a long layoff since we last played in the T20 World Cup (in March) so I’m definitely welcoming all the cricket we’re getting to play,” Wolvaardt said.

“But the conditions will be very different (against New Zealand) and we have a travel aspect to the tour as well because we’ll be moving around South Africa quite a bit, whereas here we were just based at one venue (Karachi).

“So it will require a lot of adapting to different venues and conditions, compared to what we experienced here (in Pakistan).”

Following a short break, however, the skipper believed the Proteas would be geared up and ready to hit their straps on home soil.

“We’re looking forward to two or three days at home, just refreshing, and then we’ll have to sit down and analyse New Zealand, and see how we go about it.”

There is a more jovial mood in the Proteas camp, according to spin bowler Keshav Maharaj, as they look to gain some momentum after ending a drought on their home tour against Australia.

The hosts lost five matches on the trot in the T20 and ODI formats before hitting back with a convincing 111-run win in the third ODI against the tourists in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.

Needing to win today’s fourth ODI in Centurion to keep their hopes alive in the five-match series, Maharaj said their latest result had given the team a boost in morale.

ALSO READ: Proteas ‘relieved’ to find winning form, centurion Markram admits

“There’s been a lot of excitement and I think it showed in the change room after the game, with the guys connecting and seeing smiles on their faces,” Maharaj said.

“I don’t think they will take that for granted, and now that we’ve got a taste, hopefully we can run with that momentum and take it into the next two games, and play our best cricket building up to the World Cup.”

Return from injury

Maharaj tore an Achilles tendon during a Test match against West Indies in March, and it had seemed unlikely that he would return in time to compete at next month’s World Cup in India.

After making his international comeback during the T20 series against Australia earlier this month, however, he went on to show fine form when he returned 2/37 in the third ODI in Potchefstroom on Tuesday, giving away less than four runs an over and playing a key role in South Africa’s victory.

Competing at his first 50-over World Cup was enough motivation, according to Maharaj, to get back on the field as quickly as he could, and he was rewarded for his hard work in recovery when he was included in the national squad for the upcoming showpiece.

“After surgery, I plotted the way forward with the medical team I had around me, and they gave me the best chance, which I’m very grateful for,” he said.

“It meant everything for me to want to play in the World Cup. If you look at my forefathers, they are from India, so I want to go back there and try do something special for my country, and that was the motivation I needed.”

Meanwhile, Anrich Nortje has been ruled out of the rest of the series with a lower back injury, while Temba Bavuma has a right abductor strain and will not feature at Centurion. Aiden Markram will captain the side on Friday.

Australian batters will have to wear neck protectors on their helmets when facing fast or medium-pace bowlers for the 2023/24 season, Cricket Australia announced Thursday.

The governing body has recommended neck guards be used since Australian batsman Phillip Hughes was killed after a bouncer hit him in the neck during a game in Sydney in 2014.

Stars such as Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and David Warner had resisted wearing them but neck protectors will be mandatory in men’s and women’s matches when the new season starts in early October, Cricket Australia said.

ALSO READ: Proteas relieved to find form, says Markram

“Protecting the head and neck is extremely important in our sport,” Cricket Australia’s head of operations Peter Roach said in a statement.

He said the decision was based on “a lot of advice and consultation with a wide range of experts and stakeholders”.

The decision comes a week after Australian all-rounder Cameron Green had to leave the field with concussion after a bouncer hit the side of his helmet during his team’s win over South Africa in a one-day international match.

Other changes announced included the scrapping of six runs being awarded automatically during Big Bash League matches to batters who hit the roof of Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium.

Hitting back after a run of five successive defeats, top-order batter Aiden Markram admitted the Proteas were relieved to find some form and keep their series hopes alive against Australia.

The hosts had lost all three T20 matches against the tourists, as well as the first two ODI fixtures, but they bounced back in style by charging to a 111-run victory in the third 50-over game in Potchefstroom on Tuesday night.

Markram (102 not out) contributed his second career century, while Quinton de Kock (82) and captain Temba Bavuma (57) both scored half-centuries to lay the foundation for the hosts. Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee then returned career-best figures of 4/50 to carry them home.

READ MORE: Proteas hit back with first victory on home tour against Australia

“We played better cricket tonight as a team,” Markram said.

“It was quite a tricky wicket, and we never really felt like we were in, but we managed to play better cricket in all three facets.

“Obviously there are still areas to improve on, but it was much closer to the standards we set for ourselves… and fortunately it was a nice turnaround for us.”

‘Feeling of relief’

Markram said their form over the last few weeks had been concerning not only for fans of the sport, but for the national squad themselves, as they prepared for the Cricket World Cup in India next month.

The Proteas still needed to win the last two matches of the ODI series to emerge triumphant against Australia, but they were delighted to have proved to themselves and the rest of the country that they could stand up and deliver under pressure.

ALSO READ: ‘There’s still hope’: Shamsi calls on fans not to lose faith in Proteas

“We pride ourselves on being a really competitive cricketing nation, and when you don’t play up to those standards it affects the human as well as the cricketer,” Markram said.

“It’s not nice to let people down, so when we get a good result it means a lot to us, and it’s nice to know we’ve got the character to turn it around in a must-win game.

“So there are a lot of positives we can take forward and there’s a feeling of relief as well.”

The fourth ODI between South Africa and Australia will be played in Centurion tomorrow.

Ending a lengthy run of defeats, the Proteas hit back with force on Tuesday night, coasting to a dominant 111-run victory in Potchefstroom to keep their hopes alive in their ODI series against Australia.

Following five successive losses against the tourists (in the T20 and ODI formats), the hosts finally broke their drought after controlling the third ODI match with bat and ball.

Needing 339 to win, Australia looked set to put up a fight, as opener David Warner laid a solid foundation with another impressive effort.

Warner, who made a century in the second ODI over the weekend, contributed 78 runs off 56 balls. He was run out by Keshav Maharaj in the 19th over, however, after a chaotic shambles between the wickes which featured a missing shoe.

Following his dismissal, the rest of Australia’s batting line-up gradually crumbled as they limped to a crushing defeat. Travis Head (38) and captain Mitchell Marsh (29) were the only other players to contribute more than 20 runs in their chase.

Fast bowler Gerald Coetzee, playing his fourth ODI, returned career-best figures of 4/50 to lead the Proteas bowling attack, while spinners Tabraiz Shamsi and Maharaj took two wickets each as the tourists were bundled out for 227 runs.

Proteas innings

Earlier, after being sent in to bat, South Africa got off to a spectacular start, with openers Quinton de Kock and Temba Bavuma sharing 146 runs for the first wicket.

De Kock (82) and Bavuma (57) were removed eight balls apart, but after they fell, Aiden Markram went on to score an unbeaten 102 to carry the middle order.

Markram faced just 74 deliveries in an innings which included nine fours and four sixes, as he guided the hosts to 338/6.

None of Australia’s bowlers made much of an impact, though all-rounder Head returned solid figures of 2/39 from 10 overs.

The fourth of five matches in the ODI series between South Africa and Australia will be played in Centurion on Friday, with the hosts needing to pick up another win to keep their hopes alive for a comeback victory as they aim to gain momentum ahead of next month’s Cricket World Cup.

The Proteas are running out of excuses following a poor run of form, experienced top-order batter Heinrich Klaasen admits, as they prepare to face Australia in a must-win ODI in Potchefstroom on Tuesday.

Trailing 2-0 in the five-match ODI series, after losing the T20 series 3-0 last week, the hosts will be looking to turn things around. But Klaasen said yesterday they needed to get the basics right and increase their intensity against the world’s top-ranked side.

ALSO READ: ‘There’s still hope’: Shamsi calls on fans not to lose faith in Proteas

“I think they (Australia) are doing the basics very well and we are quite far off our basics at the moment,” Klaasen said.

“And the intensity they’re playing at is far higher than ours, so that’s two departments in which we’re going to have to catch up very quickly.”

‘Off our game’

While the SA team returned to international action a couple of weeks ago after a five-month break, Klaasen said they couldn’t blame rusty players or failure to gel as a squad for their growing list of crushing defeats to the tourists.

“We’re professional cricketers and the majority of the guys have been playing around the world during the off-season, so the intensity and the basics is not really an excuse,” Klaasen said..

“We’re just off our game at the moment and we’re trying to get back to it as quickly as possible.”

Time to click

Though he felt the hosts had raised their intensity in the second ODI in Bloemfontein on Sunday, where he top-scored for the Proteas (alongside David Miller) by making 49 runs, Klaasen admitted they needed to increase it even more.

He was confident, however, that they were on the verge of a breakthrough. Having bounced back against Australia before, he believed they could do it again and build some momentum ahead of the Cricket World Cup in India next month.

“We’re putting in the hard work. It’s just a matter of time before we click and then we’ll get it back,” he said.

“The boys really are putting a lot of effort in. Sometimes I think we’re trying a little too hard to get the basics right, but I think it’s also part of the game… and hopefully we’ll put everything together [on Tuesday].”

South African cricket fans should not lose faith in the national team, spin bowler Tabraiz Shamsi insists, despite their poor run of form on the eve of next month’s World Cup.

The Proteas were handed a thumping 123-run defeat by Australia in the second ODI in Bloemfontein on Saturday night, with the tourists taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.

Following a 3-0 loss in the preceding T20 International series, their result at the weekend was the SA team’s fifth straight defeat in less than two weeks.

With three matches remaining in the ODI series, however, Shamsi believed the hosts could bounce back and emerge triumphant.

ALSO READ: Proteas defeat to Australia shows cause for concern ahead of World Cup

“There’s still hope. There are three games to go and nobody says we can’t win this series 3-2,” said Shamsi, who took four wickets on Saturday to lead the struggling Proteas bowling attack.

“We said from the beginning, before the first game was played, that we were looking to win this series 5-0.

“The results haven’t gone our way but it’s definitely not from a lack of practice or a lack of training and planning. The work ethic of the guys in the change room and the management and coaching staff has been unbelievable.

“I’m sure the people at home are disappointed. So are we. But the series is still alive and you’re going to see us coming back and trying to win this series 3-2.”

‘Very disappointed’

Shamsi claimed the national side were not hiding from their poor results, with Australia having completely dominated their tour thus far.

They remained confident, however, that they could raise their game and build some momentum ahead of the World Cup in India.

“We’ve been working hard, and we will work even harder to make sure in the next few games and the upcoming World Cup that we hit our straps and we execute our plans,” Shamsi said.

“We are accountable for our actions, so we’re very disappointed with the way we’ve gone and we’re certainly going to be trying to correct that in the next three games.”

The third ODI between South Africa and Australia – another day-night fixture – will be played in Bloemfontein tomorrow.

Australia continued their crushing dominance on their tour of South Africa, taking a 2-0 lead in the ODI series after coasting to a 123-run victory in the second 50-over match in Bloemfontein.

Needing 393 runs to win, the Proteas got off to a good start, with openers Temba Bavuma and Quinton de Kock putting on 81 for the first wicket while maintaining the required intensity.

However, De Kock (45 off 30 balls) and Bavuma (46 off 40) were removed a few overs apart. And while Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, who contributed 49 runs each, tried to hold their innings together, the home team were bundled out for 269.

Australia innings

Earlier, after losing the toss and being sent in to bat, Australia’s top order were superb, with David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne both hitting centuries.

Warner shared 109 runs with fellow opener Travis Head before Head, who contributed 64, was removed by spinner Tabraiz Shamsi in the 12th over.

ALSO READ: Australia first, says Bavuma, as Proteas turn one eye to World Cup

And while Shamsi had Australia captain Mitchell Marsh trapped leg-before with the very next delivery, the tourists then tightened their grip on the game, as Warner combined with Labuschagne in a 151-run stand for the third wicket.

Warner eventually fell in the 33rd over when he was bowled by Andile Phehlukwayo after making 106 off 93 (his 20th career century) but it did little to slow Australia’s momentum.

Labuschagne, who contributed a career-best 124 off 99 balls, also featured in a valuable 83-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Josh Inglis, who made 50 runs.

ALSO READ: Labuschagne launches late fight to snatch victory from Proteas

Shamsi was the best of the SA bowlers, returning 4/61 from his 10 overs, but they struggled to contain the tourists, who reached 392/8 to set up another convincing victory.

The third of five matches in the ODI series between South Africa and Australia will be played in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.

Having extended their string of defeats against the tourists, Proteas captain Temba Bavuma insists his team will be ready to hit back when they return to the field for the second ODI against Australia in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

Fresh off a 3-0 loss in the T20 International series last week, South Africa looked set for a comfortable victory in the first of five ODI matches on Thursday night.

Defending a total of 222 runs, the hosts had the Australians against the ropes on 113/7. They allowed their opponents back into the match, however, with Marnus Labuschagne (80 not out) guiding his team to a three-wicket win with nearly 10 overs to spare.

ALSO READ: Proteas let it slip against Australia, admits ‘disappointed’ Bavuma

With the Proteas players having returned from a five-month international break last week, Bavuma remained confident that they could find some form and gain momentum ahead of next month’s Cricket World Cup.

“The tactics are there and the players are there, but I think it all comes down to the execution,” Bavuma said.

“The guys haven’t played international cricket in a while, so it could be that they haven’t played at this intensity and simply haven’t adjusted to this level of a challenge.

“But what I can expect is that the guys will get better. These are world-class players we have within our team and we don’t expect them to keep making the same mistakes over and over.”

Bracing for battle

Despite the confidence he carried, however, Bavuma admitted they were expecting another brutal showdown against Australia in the second ODI starting at 1pm on Saturday.

With the skipper having put up a lone fight in the opening match, carrying his bat with an unbeaten 114-run contribution, he needed more assistance from the rest of his team, both with bat and ball, if they hoped to bounce back.

He admitted they were going to have to raise their game, with Australia showcasing superb form thus far on tour.

ALSO READ: Australia first, says Bavuma, as Proteas turn one eye to World Cup

“We expect a high-class (Australian) team – a team who will adapt to the conditions and not make it easy for us,” the skipper said.

“I think they will be a lot better with their batting, so that’s going to ask of us as a team to be a lot better.”

Having allowed their opponents to snatch victory from their grasp, captain Temba Bavuma admitted the Proteas could only blame themselves for their defeat to Australia in the first match of their ODI series.

Their three-wicket win in Bloemfontein on Thursday night was the fourth straight victory for Australia on their tour of SA after they triumphed in all three T20 games in Durban last week.

Chasing 223 runs to win, Australia were struggling at 113/7, needing 110 runs with just three wickets left. But Marnus Labuschagne (80 not out) and Ashton Agar (48 not out) combined in a match-winning stand for the eighth wicket to carry their side across the line.

“If you get a team in that position, you expect yourselves to be able to clean the game,” Bavuma said.

“We always speak about being relentless and when you get given a sniff against a team like Australia you’ve got to take it.

“I think if the situation was reversed and we were 113/7 and they were bowling, they would have prided themselves in being able to clean up the game.”

Captain fantastic

Bavuma was spectacular after the hosts lost the toss, contributing an unbeaten century (114) to carry his bat through the innings, but he did not receive enough support from his teammates with bat or ball.

He did, however, feel there were positives they could take into the rest of the five-match ODI series.

ALSO READ: Australia first, says Bavuma, as Proteas turn one eye to World Cup

“Obviously it’s disappointing that we weren’t able to finish off the game but I think we can also take whatever confidence there is from the fact that we were able to get them into that position,” the skipper said.

Bavuma struggled with cramps while the Proteas were fielding, and he had to leave the field, but he believed he would be ready to play in the second ODI in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

“It was more precautionary because my hammy (hamstring) felt tight, so I think I’ll be fine.”

After being handed a 3-0 hiding in last week’s T20 series, captain Temba Bavuma says the Proteas are ready to make amends in the five-match ODI campaign against Australia starting in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

The tourists coasted to victory in the short format, but Bavuma remained confident his team would put up a stronger fight in the 50-over games against their perennial rivals, having been boosted by the return of five senior players who were rested during the T20 series. They included hard-hitting batters Quinton de Kock, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, as well as fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, adding significant firepower to the national squad.

ALSO READ: Coach calls De Kock ‘a magnificent player’ after calling time on ODI career

“We know what to expect from the Australian team. If the T20 series is anything to go by, we expect them to come hard at us, and it will be important that we have tactics and solutions to counter all of that,” Bavuma said yesterday.

“As a team, our focus will always be more on ourselves, in terms of what we want to do and how we want to do that, and we have confidence that if we do that, the result will take care of itself.”

World Cup preparations

Just a month out from the Cricket World Cup in India, Bavuma brushed aside suggestions that the tour against Australia was the start of the Proteas’ build-up to the quadrennial spectacle.

While they were turning out in their first ODI series in five months, after a lengthy hiatus from the international game, the skipper insisted their preparations had begun earlier this year.

ALSO READ: Australia first, says Bavuma, as Proteas turn one eye to World Cup

“It is our last series before the World Cup, so I guess there’s more significance behind it,” Bavuma said.

“But I think in terms of everything we’ve done, our preparation started a long time ago and it’s just a matter of continuing to challenge ourselves in terms of all the conversations we’ve been having.”

The first ODI between South Africa and Australia, a day-night fixture in Bloemfontein, starts at 1pm on Thursday.

Proteas XI, first ODI

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada

They can’t deny that they will already have one eye on the Cricket World Cup, with less than five weeks to the start of the global showpiece, but captain Temba Bavuma insists the Proteas remain focused on beating Australia on home soil before they turn their attention to the upcoming spectacle in India.

Following a convincing 3-0 defeat in the T20 series against the tourists last week, the Proteas will be eager to build some momentum in the five-match ODI series starting in Bloemfontein on Thursday.

And with any tension around the naming of the World Cup squad having dissipated, with head coach Rob Walter announcing a 15-man group on Tuesday, ODI captain Bavuma was confident they could bounce back with an experienced, well established collection of players.

He also felt it was important not to undervalue the home series against their perennial rivals.

‘Energy and pride’

“I know this series against Australia has been seen as a build-up for the World Cup, but I think it’s important we put it into context and give it the significance it deserves,” Bavuma said.

“Playing against Australia is not something that happens every day, and there’s a certain energy and pride that comes with this for us as players.

“So as much as we have the World Cup coming up in India, the important thing for us is to turn up for this Australia series.

“We must tick all the boxes that need to be ticked, overcome the challenges that come with playing against Australia in these conditions, and then we can look forward to the World Cup.”

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South Africa and Australia will play three ODI matches in Bloemfontein, starting on Thursday, before the series moves on to Centurion and Johannesburg next week.

The Proteas will play their first World Cup match – a round robin clash against Sri Lanka – in Delhi on 7 October.