Proteas Look to Fight Back in 2nd ODI Against Aussies

Port Elizabeth: All-rounder Jacques Kallis is confident the Proteas will bounce back in the second One-Day International (ODI) at St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday (1pm start). The Proteas trail Australia one-nil in the three match series, and need to win the second ODI to keep the series alive.

“We have to come out fighting on Sunday,” commented Kallis.  “We are taking it one game at a time but we have to win both remaining matches to win the series and Sunday is the first step towards that. At the end of the day we must not put too much pressure on ourselves, we have to go out there and play the good cricket that we have done over the last while and that we know that we can play, and hopefully put in a lot better performance than we put in the other night.”

Kallis is the second highest run-scorer for South Africa against Australia with 1,509 runs, only behind Jonty Rhodes who is 101 runs ahead. His only ODI century against Australia was scored in Perth in 2002, an unbeaten 104, which unfortunately contributed to a losing cause. He will be eager to raise that tally, but of more importance will be a solid showing from the batsmen upfront, who have yet to fire on this tour.

Meanwhile, Sunday’s match is headed towards a full house with only 2,000 tickets left on sale. The nearly 18 000-seater stadium is synonymous with a jovial atmosphere characterised by the St George’s band, which has become a stand-out feature of the stadium over the years.

The long-standing rivalry between South Africa and Australia is set to heat up a notch as both sides prepare to come out with a point to prove. 

South Africa will again deliberate over the possible inclusion of the legspinner Imran Tahir. It is the only change the hosts may make after the selectors chose to release Robin Peterson and Wayne Parnell for domestic duties.

Shane Watson and Shaun Marsh are back in training after minor injuries but the tourists may elect to ease the duo in one at a time, with Steve Smith the man most likely to make way.

Injury-doubt Shane Watson will play in the second one-day international against South Africa, according to Australia captain Michael Clarke.

Watson picked up a hip problem during the second Twenty20 international in Johannesburg last week and missed Australia's victory in the first ODI on Wednesday.

Team from

South Africa HM Amla (capt), J Botha, MV Boucher (wk), JP Duminy, F du Plessis, Imran Tahir, JH Kallis, DA Miller, M Morkel, WD Parnell, RJ Peterson, GC Smith, DW Steyn, LL Tsotsobe.

Australia MJ Clarke (capt), SR Watson, DE Bollinger, PJ Cummins, XJ Doherty, BJ Haddin (wk), MEK Hussey, MG Johnson, MR Marsh, SE Marsh, JL Pattinson, RT Ponting, SPD Smith, DA Warner, CL White.

Pitch and conditions
Port Elizabeth can have plenty of runs in it while also providing some incentives for bowlers. Breezy and mild weather is forecast and there is little prospect of the rain that so disrupted proceedings in Pretoria.

Stats & trivia

• An Australian victory would hand the tourists a limited overs series victory in South Africa for the third time, but the first since 2002. The Proteas won series in 2006 and 2009.
• The first ODI between these sides at St George's Park in 1994 saw a memorable cameo by Allan Border, who blazed 40 from 17 balls including three sixes on his final international tour. Australia's total was 281 for 6, considered an enormous tally at the time, and South Africa never got close.

Match facts
Sunday, October 23, 2011 (day/night)
Start time 1300 local (1100 GMT)