In cricket, South Africa are preparing to host neighbouring Zimbabwe in a trio of One Day Internationals, followed by three T20's, as they continue their preparations for next year's World Cup. The Proteas will then tour Australia in October and November, before returning home for a series of Tests, ODIs, and T20s against Pakistan from December through February. CGTN's Sias du Plessis has more.

The Proteas will be without several key players for the series against their neighbours from north of the Limpopo River -- captain Faf du Plessis is undergoing rehab for a shoulder injury, while Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, David Miller, and Chris Morris are all missing for various reasons -- but the West Indian is confident that the new players will slot in and adapt quickly.

OTTIS GIBSON SOUTH AFRICA COACH "I want to call it a journey to where we are going towards the World Cup, and what we need to do if we are going to win the World Cup, where we need to be playing, and these games are giving us the opportunity to look at players, but then also see how players can fit in into that system that we want to play."

The former England bowling coach has warned his squad not to under estimate their opposition and has challenged them to execute their disciplines correctly.

OTTIS GIBSON SOUTH AFRICA COACH "You can't take any opposition in international sport for granted. Those guys have got their own reasons for coming here, wanting to do well, and wanting to turn over their neighbors. So we have to make sure, whether we have new guys or not, that the attitude that we bring to the games is exactly where we need to be."

Gibson also feels that by getting to see how the less experienced players react to pressure in the upcoming series will reveal a lot ahead of the event next year that South Africa is yearning to win.

OTTIS GIBSON SOUTH AFRICA COACH "I think by the time we get into the Pakistan series, and then into certainly the Sri Lanka series into the new year, we will be looking to pick the team that we think that is most likely to be the team to go to the World Cup. So this is still an opportunity to see one or two other players."

SIAS DU PLESSIS JOHANNESBURG "South Africa's national coach will use the Zimbabwe series as an opportunity to look at young players in the absence of du Plessis, Amla, and de Kock. This is where the selection process for the World Cup starts, and with series against Australia and Pakistan to follow, this is the perfect opportunity for these players to stake a claim at next year's cricketing showpiece, Sias du Plessis, CGTN, Johannesburg."