Ellis and Davies fly home as Australia's injury list grows before the final ODI in Potchefstroom

Australia will finish their tour of South Africa with a squad barely bigger than a fit eleven after Nathan Ellis and Joel Davies were ruled out and sent home

Ellis suffered a left side strain in the second one-day international in Johannesburg, leaving the field after four overs. He returns to Australia for assessment and rehabilitation, with the home ODI series against England, which begins on November 13, the target for his comeback.

Davies strained his right hamstring while fielding as a substitute in the same match. The spinner travelled as the second slow-bowling option and goes home without having played a game on the tour.

They follow Josh Inglis, who left with a broken finger after the first ODI in Durban, and Billy Stanlake, whose side strain ended his tour during the Zimbabwe leg.

A squad stretched to its limit

Jack Edwards is the next concern. He is being monitored with a hamstring problem and travelled with the group to Potchefstroom, but if he cannot play, Australia will name their side from 12 fit players.

Edwards was the beneficiary of Ellis's departure in Johannesburg, taking a maiden one-day international five-wicket haul once the senior bowler had left the attack.

Cricket Australia's website reported that Ollie Peake, who impressed during the Zimbabwe matches before missing out on this squad, is ready to come in if another body is needed.

Cummins and Starc back in the frame

The losses reshape a bowling attack that had been managed carefully through a long block of white-ball cricket. Pat Cummins sat out the first two ODIs and is expected to return for the last one.

Mitchell Starc, rested for the Johannesburg match, is also likely to come back into the side. Josh Hazlewood has played both matches and could be given the game off, with Xavier Bartlett expected to keep his place.

That would leave Australia with four fit specialist quicks for a dead rubber that has become an audition as much as a fixture.

Green restricted to batting

Cameron Green remains in the side as a batter only, unable to bowl because of a shoulder problem that has been troubling him for some time.

"He's been having a little trouble for a while with it and unfortunately he just can't get much overarm when he needs it," Matthew Renshaw said of his team-mate after the second ODI.

Renshaw added that Green's batting had kept his place secure. "He's been doing a really good job for us. When his shoulder gets right, he'll be able to bowl as well," he said.

A series already decided

South Africa lead the three-match series 2-0 after winning in Durban and at the Wanderers, so the final match carries no series consequence for either side.

For Australia it still matters. The tour has been used to look at fringe players ahead of a home summer, and injuries have handed opportunities to several of them earlier than planned.

Renshaw pointed to a change in approach with the bat in Johannesburg. "(In the first ODI) we got off to such a good start then might have gone a little bit too hard, some interesting shots," he said. "But today we just spoke about trying to build partnerships and go that way."

What comes next

The third ODI is a day-night match at JB Marks Oval in Potchefstroom on Wednesday, September 30, starting at 1.30pm local time.

Australia's medical staff will then have a short window before the home season, with the England ODI series in November the first significant assignment for the players heading home.

Australia close out the tour on Wednesday with a bowling attack rebuilt around its senior fast bowlers and a squad that can no longer afford another injury.

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