South Africa and Australia Open ODI Series in Durban; England Seeks Series Win
The three-match ODI series between the Proteas and the Kangaroos begins today at Kingsmead, while England aims to seal their series against Sri Lanka at Headingley.
The story
The cricketing world turns its attention to Kingsmead in Durban today as South Africa hosts Australia in the first of a three-match One Day International series. The Proteas, led by Temba Bavuma, will be looking to start their home international summer strongly, despite facing pace bowling injuries to key players like Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi.
Australia, fresh off a 3-0 whitewash against Zimbabwe, will be bolstered by the return of captain Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc, and will aim to continue their winning momentum. The pitch at Kingsmead is expected to favor seam bowlers, offering consistent bounce and carry.
Meanwhile, in Leeds, England will face Sri Lanka in the second ODI at Headingley. England, having secured an 89-run victory in the first match, will be confident of sealing the series with a game to spare. Sri Lanka, after a disappointing batting performance in the opener, will need significant contributions from captain Kusal Mendis and Dunith Wellalage to keep the series alive.
Latest results
| Match | Format | Result | Star |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria vs Sierra Leone | T20I | Result not available | |
| Cayman Islands vs Bermuda | T20I | Cayman Islands won by 2 wickets | Romeo Dunka (Cayman Islands) 3/27 |
| Japan vs Afghanistan | T20I | Afghanistan won by 48 runs | Arab Gul (Afghanistan) 4/8 |
| Hong Kong, China vs Malaysia | T20I | Malaysia won by 8 wickets | Pavandeep Singh (Malaysia) 3 wickets |
Series in play
Sri Lanka tour of England, 2026. 2nd ODI, England leads 1-0
Australia tour of South Africa, 2026. 1st ODI, series begins today
Asian Games 2026. Group stage matches in progress
North American Cup, 2026. Group stage matches in progress
Tables that matter
| Competition | Position | Note |
|---|---|---|
| ICC Men's ODI Team Rankings | 1. India (116 rating) | India leads the One Day International team rankings. |
| ICC Men's T20I Team Rankings | 1. India (269 rating) | India holds the top spot in the Twenty20 International team rankings. |
| ICC Men's T20I Batting Rankings | 1. Ishan Kishan | Ishan Kishan maintains his position as the top-ranked T20I batsman. |
| ICC Men's T20I Bowling Rankings | 1. Abrar Ahmed | Abrar Ahmed is the leading bowler in the T20I format. |
What we'll be watching
- South Africa vs Australia, 1st ODI, today at Kingsmead, Durban (08:00 UTC)
- England vs Sri Lanka, 2nd ODI, today at Headingley, Leeds (11:30 UTC)
- Bahamas vs Cayman Islands, 5th Match, North American Cup, today at Jimmy Powell Oval (18:30 UTC)
- Afghanistan vs Nepal, Asian Games 2026, September 25
Reporting + analyst voices: grounded via Google Search at publish time.