After been grounded in the first one-dayer at WACA, South Africa would look to level the series in the 2nd ODI against Australia at Perth again. However, it is easier said than done for the touring party as after facing a thumping defeat they have a colossal task to level the series.
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Nothing really clicked for the Proteas in the series opener and they were never really in hunt to chase the target, after George Bailey-powered Australia posted a competitive total on the board.
Australian bowlers then came to the fore and bundled the Proteas inside 50 overs. The margin of defeat could have been much higher, if Imran Tahir and Morne Morkel had not shown resilience.
The batsmen played well and the bowlers were also on song, as Mitchell Johnson and company ripped through the African batting. Johnson was instrumental in providing the early breakthrough, while Nathan Coulter-Nile wretched havoc with the old ball.
Meanwhile, everything didn’t go according to the plan for Australia as skipper Michael Clarke was ruled out of the series owing to a hamstring injury. Clarke’s World Cup dreams are also in doubt, leave alone the ODI series.
“It’s never easy when you’re losing one of your best players, but that’s part and parcel of sport these days,” Darren Lehmann said. “Players have got to be adaptable. We’d love him there.”
“But you can (still) win every game you play (without him),” he added. “With the 11 that go on the field, we have full faith in winning each and every game.”
Bailey has been appointed as the skipper for the remaining matches and he is not a bad choice for the job, seeing the credentials he has as a captain.
“George has done really well as a one-day captain, so he’s as prepared as he can be if that happens,” Johnson said. “He quite enjoys it and we back him 100 per cent.”
The Africans, meanwhile, will be aiming to get their World Cup preparations back on track and the AB de Villiers-led side has a mountain to climb in the remaining games.
Squads: Australia (possible): Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, George Bailey (c), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Josh Hazlewood.
South Africa (possible): Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (c), Farhaan Behardien, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Imran Tahir.
