Australia Predicted XI vs South Africa, Cricket World Cup 2023: Will Pat Cummins Make Any Changes?

Australia will be up against South Africa in the second semi-final of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 on Thursday, November 16 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India. The match is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM IST. After suffering back-to-back defeats, Australia regrouped to stitch a seven-match winning streak. The five-time champions enter the match on the back of an eight-wicket win over Bangladesh to finish the group stage in third place.

Openers: David Warner, Travis Head

Opener David Warner, with 499 runs in nine matches, is in scintillating form for Australia in the ongoing tournament. The left-handed batter has played a crucial role in providing strong starts for the team, thereby creating a foundation for the middle order to build upon later in the innings.

Despite his absence in the initial matches, Travis Head has swiftly secured his spot in the Australian playing XI. Head has seamlessly complemented Warner at the top of the order, amassing 130 runs in four matches. He has a century and a half-century to his name.

Middle-order: Mitchell Marsh, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis

Mitchell Marsh has been one of the most consistent players for Australia in the tournament. The all-rounder enters the upcoming match with the momentum of a splendid match-winning performance, scoring 177 runs off 132 balls against Bangladesh. In total, Marsh has racked up 426 runs in eight matches, including two centuries and a half-century.

Following his initial struggles in the tournament, Marnus Labuschagne found his stride and emerged as the anchor for Australia. In nine matches, the right-handed batter has scored 286 runs, including two half-centuries.

Australian wicket-keeper Josh Inglis has been instrumental in providing