Australia bowling coach Ryan Harris says the tourists are desperate to avoid losing 5-0 in an ODI series for the first time in their history.

The numbers are against the Aussies, having won just two of their six OD’s at Newlands, in 1994 and 2000. The Proteas meanwhile, have lost just five of 31 ODI’s in Cape Town.

Newlands was also the scene for Australia’s lowest total against SA, when they were bowled out for 93 in 2006.

‘The bottom line is now, five-nil is not what we want,’ Harris said. ‘It’s never happened before so the boys are pretty determined not to let that happen over the next couple of days.

‘Considering what’s gone on, the boys have been in pretty good spirits. We had a big meeting together and hung out together and it’s all good.’

Australia have never lost five matches in a bilateral series before, and are still licking their wounds from their six-wicket defeat in Port Elizabeth against a side missing seven of their first-choice players.

They’re expected to tinker with their side yet again, with Usman Khawaja yet to feature on the tour despite his 82 against Ireland and the poor form of Aaron Finch and George Bailey, while paceman Joe Mennie has only played once, despite other bowlers struggling.

Harris says Australia’s inexperienced attack has certainly endured a tough series, but he’s also convinced they have the ability to be successes at international level.

‘They’re better than what this series has shown,’ Harris said.

‘Coming into a series against a pretty good side, pretty good players in their own backyard, small grounds and flat wickets, it’s a bloody hard thing to do.

‘They know they haven’t bowled that well but they also know they can bowl better.’

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