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A lot of verbal duals have been on display in past few weeks between Australia and South Africa, starting with Faf Du Plessis saying Australia are wounded from the 5-0 whitewash in the recent ODI series and Dale Steyn targeting David Warner and Steven Smith to Warner ultimately dismissing the talk.
The series promises to be a riveting one as has been the case in the past decade or so under the tutelage of Graeme Smith and now continuing to his successors. The last time the Proteas toured Australia, they managed to win 1-0. Can they do it this time around? It remains to be seen.
Here are five things which, ultimately, will decide the fate of the series.
1. The form of David Warner and Steven Smith
Steyn rightly targetted the captain and vice-captain duo. The last time Australia and South Africa met in a Test series, David Warner was Man of the Series with three hundreds in three matches and not far behind was Steven Smith with a hundred in the first Test in Johannesburg and a good knock in the last Test which eventually decided the series.
South Africa have been right in targeting them, as these two are the fulcrum around which the entire Australian team will revolve in the next five years or so.
Warner has been in poor form in Test cricket for a year or so with low scores against New Zealand and Sri Lanka but with the home summer just around the corner, there is nothing more he could ask for to help get his form back, particularly against his favourite opposition South Africa, who Warner has demolished in the past.
While Smith has been continuing to lead from the front, he hasn’t been able to find an ally for him. So his form is crucial going ahead, and South Africa know it.
2. South Africa’s inexperienced top order
Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar have no experience of Test cricket down under. While both are experienced in first-class cricket, the experience in Australia is something which is unparalleled – facing Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Nathan Lyon in their own backyard won’t be easy. Cook and Elgar will have to bat out of their skin to earn each run against them. Also, their exploits at top defines the amount of pressure the South African middle order will be under.
3. Mitchell Starc and Nathan Lyon’s form
While Starc has shown glimpses of being back to form in the last Test series Australia played against Sri Lanka, Nathan Lyon didn’t look himself, probably due to lack of runs he had to bowl at given his teammates’ failure in Sri Lanka. But Lyon is someone you cannot rule out. Australia will need him to come good against Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and Quinton De Kock .
4. Dale Steyn’s fitness
More than form, it’s Steyn’s fitness which has been the cause of worry for last 18 months or so. He has been playing one Test and then been out for another three or four. With age also not on his side, does he have enough left in the tank to blow by Australia?
Steyn has been the chief tormentor for Australia in the last two series when South Africa toured in 2009 and 2012. 2016 could be no different – that’s certainly what South Africa would want.
5. Taking half chances
Given the quality of players on both sides, it is imperative to convert half chances whether behind the wicket or in the field. It will probably decide the outcome of the series.
While Peter Nevill and Quinton de Kock are supposed to be two of the best behind the wicket, du Plessis and Duminy are important ring leaders as far as fielding is concerned for South Africa. Of course, AB De Villiers will be missed, but they will carry on without him.
Warner and Smith form the core of the fielding unit for Australia.
A drop could be the make or break point of the series. You cannot afford to drop a catch off players like Hashim Amla or Warner. Catches win matches and this series will be no different.
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