South Africa has won the toss and elected to bat first in Thursday’s semi-final against Australia at Eden Gardnens.
Marcus Stoinis has been dropped for the must-win contest, with Marnus Labuschagne retaining his spot in the starting XI.
Australia XI
David Warner, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Mitch Starc, Pat Cummins (c), Josh Hazlewood, Adam Zampa
South Africa XI
Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi
Australian skipper Pat Cummins has dropped a huge selection hint ahead of a blockbuster finals clash against South Africa, with looming rain likely to factor into the game.
Cummins confirmed Glenn Maxwell will return to the line-up after sitting out against Bangladesh, suffering severe cramps during his double century against Afghanistan.
“It was a precautionary scan. We get scanned a lot of the time just to make sure that if there is something, that we know what we’re dealing with, and fortunately it came back all sweet,” Cummins told reporters.
MATCH CENTRE: Australia vs South Africa scorecard
Wet weather is predicted to hit Kolkata, with rain expected to arrive on Thursday and Friday due to a “cyclonic circulation” off the coast, according to the India Meteorological Department.
However, the forecast has since softened with only moderate showers being predicted to fall during the crucial clash.
According to Weather.com (as of 3pm AEDT Thursday) rain is possible at around 12pm local time (5.30pm AEDT) but it should only be very light showers and should clear up by 2pm local time (7.30pm AEDT) – when the match is scheduled to start.
More showers are possible throughout the evening, but again should only be minimal.
According to most predictions, the intermittent showers should allow plenty of play, even if there are some pauses in the action.
Should weather stop the game from going ahead on Thursday, the reserve day on Friday will be activated, with the match resuming from where it left off.
However, should weather stop the game altogether, South Africa will be the team who progress through to the final against India.
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For Cummins, he isn’t thinking about rain and has a big decision regarding the make up of his side to face the Proteas.
Middle-order batsmen Marnus Labuschagne and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis are locked in a heated battle for the final spot in the side.
Labuschagne does have an edge over Stoinis though, with his ability to bowl leg spin looking likely to play in to Cummins’ decision.
“In terms of the wicket, it does look like it’s probably going to spin a bit more than some of the other wickets,” Cummins said.
“With the all-rounders, someone like say Stoin at No. 7, that’s giving you valuable overs, but then he also is a really aggressive finisher to the innings.
“So you’re weighing that up against maybe a middle-order batter if you think the bowling might not come into it as much.
“The runs are to be had through the middle overs rather than blasting out at the end. So, they’re things we’ve got to weigh up.”
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