All you need to know and why the T20 series between these cricket heavyweights is such a vital series
SA v Australia T20 guide
The overview
While a majority of the scarce bilateral T20 matches sprinkled throughout the international cricket calendar have little to no meaning, the three-match series between Australia and South Africa is oozing with the stuff. In less than a week's time, both sides will fly to India for the 2016 ICC World T20 – the shortest format's showpiece event. An event neither side was won. The trio of matches in the next six days will be used to trial players, refine roles, consolidate combinations and tinker with tactics. Both sides say winning the series is all that matters – which in part is true, you never want to lose a game of cricket – but if by losing discoveries are made which result in some silverware on the subcontinent, all will be forgiven.
The teams
Starting with the hosts, South Africa have a well-balanced squad. They're led by Faf du Plessis, the dashing right-hander who averages 40 in the format. A heavy top order full of experience includes Du Plessis, AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla. Quinton de Kock returns to take his place behind the stumps, and will likely push one of Amla or De Villiers out of an opening spot. JP Duminy, David Miller and Chris Morris will solidify the middle to lower order. Spearhead Dale Steyn will play his first T20 for South Africa in two years, teaming up with pace sensation Kagiso Rabada. Kyle Abbott is the third seamer, while Imran Tahir is the key spin option. Uncertainty surrounds Aaron Phangiso's action, and could be replaced if he fails a second test on Monday.
South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese
For the Australians, they're basing their strategy around versatility, with potentially five allrounders cramming into the starting XI. Each member of the 15-man touring party will feature at some point during the series, so expect significant personnel changes from match to match. What will be closely examined are the opening combinations, with four specialist top-order players fighting for three spots ahead of skipper Steve Smith. In the bowling department, Adam Zampa, though suffering from a stomach bug, looks set to be the premier spinner, while Andrew Tye, Nathan Coulter-Nile and Josh Hazlewood could be battling it out for just one spot.
Australia squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Ashton Agar, Nathan Coulter-Nile, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Peter Nevill, Andrew Tye, Shane Watson, Adam Zampa
The players to watch
Australia
South Africa
The venues
First up is Kingsmead in Durban. The two adversaries played out a thrilling Seven7 (seven overs per side) the last time Australia toured in 2014. Heavy rain played havoc with the match conditions, with the outfield resembling a timber yard from the buckets of sawdust used to soak up the wet outfield. Veteran Brad Hodge hit a brace of sixes to win the match in the final over.
There's no time to rest as the teams head to Johannesburg for Sunday's second match at the Wanderers, home of the inaugural 2007 World T20 final, won by India. The ground holds special memory for visiting coach Darren Lehmann, who took the match-winning catch to seal Australia's 2003 World Cup title. De Villiers has done pretty well there too; he plundered the fastest-ever ODI century there in 2015.
Finally, the series concludes in the picturesque Cape Town. Newlands hosts the third match of the series on Wednesday, the venue of Australia's exhilarating Test victory two years ago to seal a 2-1 series win and the world No.1 ranking.
The form guide
The Proteas head into this series full of confidence after beating England 2-0 on home soil last month. The hosts should have lost the first encounter if it wasn't for a meltdown by Eoin Morgan's men, before De Villiers and Amla put the tourists to the sword in the second match.
Australia are coming off a 3-0 drubbing at the hands of India in January. Nineteen players were used in that series and the lack of cohesion showed as the Aussies crumbled despite standout performances from Aaron Finch and Shane Watson.
The stat
If Watson and Warner open the batting, it will see Australia's leading T20 wicket-taker (Watson) team-up with Australia's leading T20 run-scorer (Warner).
The quotes
"He's an incredible player. Whether he's opening the batting or batting slightly down the order he's just as dangerous. We've got a few plans in store for him and hopefully we can execute them well in these three matches," Steve Smith on stopping AB de Villiers.
"It's great to have him back. It's great to see him hungry. For me, a hungry Dale Steyn is the reason why we were thinking of selecting him for this World Cup. Dale, when he's like that in that space, he'll be consistently proving to everyone that he's the best bowler in the world," Faf du Plessis is happy to have Dale Steyn back playing T20 cricket.
The coverage
The T20 series will be screened live on Fox Sports, with the first match on Fox Sports 1 from 3am AEDT on Saturday. The second match is scheduled for Fox Sports 2 from 11.30pm and the third on Fox Sports 3 from 3am AEDT Thursday, March 10.
The internet
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