Marnus Labuschagne has gotten the nod to play the World Cup semi-final against South Africa, edging out Marcus Stoinis for the final spot in Australia's XI as Temba Bavuma won a crucial toss and elected to bat.

It leaves Australia bowling first on a used Kolkata pitch excepted to take turn, with Labsuchagne's slower but steadier batting preferred over Marcus Stoinis' explosive finishing and death bowling.

Australia: 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: 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

Glenn Maxwell and Mitchell Starc have returned as expected after both missed the Aussies' final group-stage match last week, with Sean Abbott and Stoinis dropping out.

South Africa's captain Temba Bavuma has been passed fit to play despite picking up a hamstring injury in their final group match last week.

He will be able to call on two spinners, with Tabraiz Shamsi edging out paceman Lungi Ngidi in the only change to the Proteas XI.

Both sides are bracing for a rain-affected contest that will decide who plays India in Ahmedabad on Sunday after the undefeated tournament hosts beat New Zealand.

The entire Eden Gardens playing area was covered by white rain sheets when the teams arrived at the ground on Thursday, laid down despite a dry morning in anticipation of showers predicted for the afternoon.

A reserve day is in place, when the match can continue if a minimum of 20 overs per side are not achieved, but the forecast is even worse for Friday.

Labuschagne has played every match for Australia in this tournament despite initially being left out entirely of an 18-man preliminary squad for the tournament.

The 29-year-old shone in bilateral campaigns leading into the World Cup, first earning a spot in the final 15-man squad and then holding his spot through the group stage as Australia weathered a succession of injuries to their top order.

Stoinis was among those to go in and out of the side due to fitness concerns. Now with the full squad available for the tournament, the allrounder has been the one to make way for the crunch match.

Source: Cricket Australia

BDST: 1420 HRS, NOV 16, 2023
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