T20I Evolution Reaches Darwin

The Australian men's T20I series against South Africa is set to kick off in Darwin on Sunday, with the Australians looking to bounce back from their five-wicket loss to South Africa in the WTC final at Lord's in June.

South Africa's Shukri Conrad has advised his team to move on from their WTC success, and with 20 T20Is before the format's World Cup in Sri Lanka and India in February and March, they will have ample opportunity to do so.

The Australians, who have won six ODI World Cups and one T20 World Cup, are significantly more used to winning trophies than their opponents. They have moved on from their recent loss, as evident from their 5-0 thumping of West Indies in a T20I rubber in the Caribbean in June and July.

Match Details

• When: August 10, 2025; 6.45pm Local Time (11.15am SAT, 9.15am GMT, 2.45pm IST)
• Where: Marrara Oval, Darwin
• What to expect: The first senior T20I staged at this ground, with a drop-in pitch adding to the mystery. Clear skies and a high of 32 degrees Celsius are forecast.

Team News

• Mitchell Marsh has confirmed that he will open the batting with Travis Head, marking the first time this pair have done so in this format.
• Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton seem set to bat at the top of the order for South Africa.

Possible XIs

• Australia: Mitchell Marsh (capt), Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Tim David, Mitchell Owen, Ben Dwarshuis, Sean Abbott, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.
• South Africa: Aiden Markram (capt), Ryan Rickelton, Rassie van der Dussen, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Dewald Brevis, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Prenelan Subrayen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Nqaba Peter.

Quotes

• "It'll be myself and Heady up the top for the foreseeable future. We've played a lot together and we've got a great relationship, so we'll start there." – Mitchell Marsh on his brand new opening partnership with Travis Head.
• "It's great having the experienced guys back, nice and refreshed as well. You can see they are raring to go." – Shukri Conrad is pleased to have his senior players back after an experimental squad went to the triseries in Zimbabwe.