AUS v SA 2018: 3 AUS & SA players to look out for ahead of 2019 World Cup

The Aussies are currently facing South Africa in three One-Day Internationals and later will face them in one Twenty20 International. The first One-Day International was be a day match which South Africa won with ease. The latter two will be day/night matches beginning at 1:50 P.M (Local Time).

The first ODI was held at the Perth Stadium, which is also used as a ground for Australian rules football. The second match will be at the acclaimed Adelaide Oval, while the third and final ODI will be hosted at the Blundstone Arena in Hobart, Tasmania. The only T20I match will be held at the Carrara (or Metricon) Stadium on the Gold Coast of Queensland.

After the infamous sand-paper incident during the Test series earlier in the year, Australia & South Africa are geared up to revive their lost rivalry. In the 7-month period before the first ODI, we had seen several bans and resignations which shook the whole Australian cricket fraternity. Even their recent ODI form is also looking awful as they have now lost 20 out of 26 ODIs since 2017. In this time of crisis, under new skipper, Aaron Finch, the new-look Aussie ODI side will look to get back the lost trust & faith in their own backyard and win the remaining two matches. This series is very important for Aussies, as it will give them an idea about their squad for the 2019 World Cup in England.

On the other hand, the Proteas are without the services of senior players Hashim Amla and JP Duminy due to injuries. But this tour will provide them an opportunity to test their revamped ODI side ahead of next year's World Cup. Aiden Markram opened with Reeza Hendricks in the first ODI, who will hope to continue his Sri Lanka tour form in the middle order. Dale Steyn was back in blistering form in the first ODI and will hope to be included in South Africa's World Cup plans after several career-threatening injuries.

Let's have a look at 3 exciting players from both the teams for whom this series is crucial to cement their positions in ODI's ahead of next year's World Cup in England.

Australia

#3 Nathan Coulter-Nile

Innings - 22 | Wickets - 38 | BBF - 4/48

* Nathan Coulter-Nile is raring to go after injury rehab

Nathan Coulter-Nile had made his ODI debut in 2013. But till now played only 22 ODIs in his 5-year ODI career. Repetitive injuries and heavy competition for pacers always kept him out of many Australian ODI squads. Finally, he's injury free and will target one pacers slot in Australia's World Cup squad. In 22 innings he has taken 38 wickets with best figures of 4/48 vs SA at WACA in 2014.

#2 D Arcy Short

In D'Arcy Short, BBL 2017 gave another T20 superstar to franchise cricket. He also had a decent start to his T20I career. In the 3 ODI's he played against England, Short had 83 runs at an average of 41.50 with 47* as highest. Recently, scored a sensational 257 in JLT ODI Cup. He is one of the exciting players for Australian team management ahead of long home summer and World Cup.

* D Arcy Short scored 257 in JLT ODI Cup

#1 Chris Lynn

Chris Lynn is a perfect ingredient for T20 franchises with his big hitting skills. But in the 50-over format, he isn't as successful as he is in T20 format. Career threatening injuries kept him away from Aussies ODI plans.

So, he decided to withdraw from Caribbean Premier League to participate in JLT Domestic ODI Cup to concentrate on his ODI career. He amassed two tons and was leading run-scorer in that competition and selected for SA series. With form behind him, Lynn will start his hunt for World Cup spot.

--> His first ODI was against Pakistan on 13 Jan, 2017. He scored 16 runs in that match.

In the first ODI against SA, he scored 15.

Chris Lynn is in fine form & hit 2 tons in JLT ODI Cup

South Africa

#3 Dwaine Pretorius (All-Rounder)

ODI's - 12 | Wickets - 17 | Runs - 86 | Avg. - 29.33 | HS - 50

Dwaine Pretorius can be

perfect

all-rounder for SA in WC

When Dwaine Pretorius made his debut, he impressed everyone with his raw pace and striking skills. He took 17 wickets in his short 13 ODI career. But injuries constantly kept him away from the national side and an injury to another newbie Willem Mulder allowed him to come back to ODI side. If he performs well, he can claim one of the all-rounder's slot in South Africa ODI side for World Cup.

#2 Reeza Hendricks (Batsman)

Innings - 7 | Runs - 220 | Avg. - 29.33 | HS - 102

With AB de Villiers's sudden retirement from International Cricket, South Africa had to search for other middle-order options for next year's World Cup. Reeza Hendricks is one of the front-runners for one of the middle-order slots. He already had an impressive start to his ODI career with a 100 & 50 in just 6 matches he played and a 44 against the Aussies in the first ODI. If he is able to deliver in their home season, then he can confirm his berth for the mega event in UK

eeza

Hendricks eyes no.3 slot

#1 Aiden Markram (Batsman)

Innings - 14 | Runs - 356 | Avg. - 24.62 | HS - 66

Aiden Markram is another player who can grab a World Cup spot in AB's absence. With Amla-de Kock's pair settled at the top, Markram tried his luck in the middle-order. But he didn't have the kind of start in ODI's as he had in Test cricket. Had only one single 50+ score in 14 innings. He began the tour at the number 3 position, but once Amla returns, he might have to find a way to fit in the middle-order positions.