Watch Australia vs South Africa 5th odi Live Streaming
Australia
vs
South Africa
The similarities between this match and the Sydney Test are striking. Both turned into dead rubbers after South Africa claimed the series early and both provided opportunities for South Africa to claim the No. 1 ranking. Australia hope the parallels continue and they take a consolation win and hold onto top spot, as they did at the SCG. South Africa will rest some key players but neither team wants to give their opponent any extra confidence ahead of the return Test and one-day series in South Africa, which begins in a month.
South Africa's victory at Adelaide Oval on Australia Day gave them an unassailable 3-1 lead in the five-game contest. It was not the outcome that most observers expected from a one-day side that entered the series as the underdogs, led by the inexperienced captain Johan Botha. Now they can jump Australia on the ICC rankings with another triumph in Perth. That task will be harder without their strike bowlers Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini, while Australia have added strength to their line-up after what Ricky Ponting described as their worst performance of the summer on Monday.
