Edwards, who was recently replaced as NSW captain with the state staying he wanted to focus on his own game, made his international debut in the T20I series against Pakistan earlier this year but is uncapped in ODIs, although he was briefly added to the squad against India last season. He was with the Australia A side in India for their two-match four-day series against India A when called up.
Stanlake pulled up with a side injury during his fifth over in the second match of the series against Zimbabwe, which Australia won 3-0 when they clinched the final game by one wicket on Sunday.
Johnson, who played two of the three matches in Zimbabwe, and helped Nathan Ellis secure victory in the final game with the bat, is being given a break before the 50-over leg of the Australia A tour of India A where he was initially the only crossover between the squads. Johnson spent a considerable amount of time sidelined with a back injury in 2025 and early 2026.
Australia travelled to South Africa on Monday ahead of the start of the three-match ODI series in Durban on Thursday with games to follow in Johannesburg and Potchefstroom before focus shifts to the Test series. The multi-format fast bowlers will likely be rotated throughout the series. Josh Hazlewood played just once in Zimbabwe.
With Edwards now unavailable, Liam Scott takes the allrounder’s role at No. 7. Sam Konstas and Campbell Kellaway will open the batting while both offspinners, Todd Murphy and Corey Rocchiccioli, will play alongside quicks Fergus O’Neill and Brendan Doggett.
