While most in Aussie land hail their team for their Ashes form so far, I hope it wouldn’t be deemed inappropriate to look ahead to their upcoming tour to South Africa in February.
Australia, though odds on favourites, have not won the urn just yet. That aside, the tour to South Africa will be the litmus test of how far the Aussies have really progressed.
This Ashes is an important series and could give us a glimpse of the strides the Aussies have made since the departure of the likes of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist, the Waughs etc.
The South Africans of late have turned the tables on their former nemesis and it’s no more fait accompli that the Aussies’ ‘mental disintegration’ tactic, made famous by one S Waugh and a vaunted pace attack, aided and abetted by Shane Warne in days gone by, will blow the South Africans off the park.
In fact it’s the Aussies who have looked like a deer in the headlights during recent clashes between the nations.
After coming off second best in the initial Test meetings, the Proteas have learnt from their shortcomings and have given the Aussies some of their own medicine of late. It was a steep learning curve for South Africa but lessons well learnt.
That SA’s Test team is the ultimate in balance, skill and a unit high on confidence, there is no doubt.
Who will forget Faf Du Plessis’ rearguard 110 off 366 balls in November last year to save the second Test in Adelaide?
His innings was the catalyst for the Proteas eventually clinching their second series win in Australia post-isolation.
The South African bowling, fielding and batting unit is a very tall order to overcome on the fast tracks in South Africa.
With the exception of Michael Clarke, Shane Watson and possibly David Warner, there is not much experience in the batting line-up and SA in former days always knew that should they rid of ‘Pup’ and Mike Hussey, the frail tail would always be exposed.
Can the Aussies deal with the speed of Dale Steyn, the steepling bounce of Morne Morkel and the accuracy of Vernon Philander in South Africa?
The Newlands first Test two years ago will still be fresh in their minds – that day the Aussies plummeted to one of their lowest totals, 47 all out.
It was debutant Philander who, with figures of 5/15, put the skids under them.
Clarke starred with the bat by scoring 151.
The Australians’ key bowlers who will have to put a confident SA batting side under pressure are Mitchell Johnson, workhorse Peter Siddle and Ryan Harris.
Johnson, who is finally putting good bowling performances together in the Ashes, is still an enigma though. It remains to be seen if he can continue this form into South Africa.
Once batsmen like Graeme Smith and Hashim Amla are allowed to take the shine off the ball, it could be a tough nut to crack for the Aussie bowlers who haven’t really mastered reverse swing.
And we know the perceived frailties of a Johnson, that has been documented before.
Nathan Lyon has still got to prove he is a wicket-taker of note. No more are the South Africans that vulnerable to spin compared to earlier years, and if Lyon does not get the required purchase and flight on the bouncier tracks he will be in for a tough tour.
Australia’s key batsmen will have to show they can handle the swinging ball – especially the away swing at high speed from the likes of Dale Steyn.
Even Michael Clarke, despite his 151 last time around in SA, showed signs of technical frailties on the faster tracks against the likes of Steyn, who swings it away quite a bit, later in that series.
Chris Rogers, if picked, must come to the party and Warner might have to learn that bashing around at a run a ball is not always the answer when it comes to the vagaries of Test cricket.
Hussey has no doubt left a vacuum in the middle order and the Aussies will have to show some mettle and stability in that department in the three Test series, to be played at Pretoria’s SuperSport Park, St George’s, Port Elizabeth and Newlands, Cape Town.
Not that South Africa don’t have perceived weaknesses. They depend a lot on good innings from the likes of Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB De Villiers and tend to have the odd implosion in the middle-order when they are not a focused team.
But it won’t ask much of the Proteas to be a focused unit when they face Australia.
Their bowling attack is one of the best in terms of balance.
They have a rejuvenated wicket-taker in legspinner, Imran Tahir, while Robin Peterson adds a batting option as well.
Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Kallis are a handful to deal with on the best of days – there is going to be no letting off for the Australians.
They’re focused on the Ashes for now – but the SA tour will be a true test of character for Australia.
RED
Guest
Saffa's have a team that will bat you into the ground. They also have some spine and fight. Johnson was playing at the WACA last time round.
Vic
Guest
SA have not played many tests since their last spell against Aus-hopefully the 2 tests against India will be competitive so they get a bit of practice prior to Aus coming over. Would love to see de Kock against Johnson but it's unlikely that he'll get a chance in the tests.
pope paul v11
Guest
Is De Lange fit?
jonnybok
Guest
um smith just scored a double century in his last test match in the uae, against the second best bowling attack in the world at their 'home ground'. after facing the giant fast bowler mo irfan, johnson will look like a midget. vastly overrated. also oz will have to face marchant de lange and hardus viljoen. two express pace bowlers who will be playing for the proteas second eleven by the time oz arrive. Clarke get ready for a broken arm matey. Quinton de kock will be flaying ur bowlers around his home ground the wanderers, the modern day wicket that actually behaves like the old waca pitches. SA batsmen are brought up on pace. every franchise has a bowler of johnsons pace. they don't make the Proteas side because raw pace is not enough. sa bowlers need to do something extra, like extreme late swing, bounce or move it both ways consistently in order to make the side. ozzies #flattrackbullies
trev
Guest
MItchell Johnson is in great form and I have a lot of respect for him, but how is he the best in the world at his trade? Best bowler in the world - Dale Steyn Best left armer in the world - Trent Boult Best bowler in Australia - Ryan Harris Prediction - South Africa for the win
dan ced
Guest
Klinger! :D :D Very much looking forward to playing South Africa, I work with a South African so it will be hard to cop if we get dominated.
Wobbly
Guest
There's no more Shield matches now until Feb and the touring team leaves before then - first SA tour game 5 Feb! Considering test and test back-up bowlers have been rested / out of many of the shield matches thus far, how the hell can they select new players? Combines with that the top five scorers have been Hughes (thrice tried and failed), Cam White (inconsistent, questions on defence), North (previously discarded) and some young blokes not ready who've scored well at Adelaide (Cooper and head). So the squad outside the current XI is going to be selected largely on One day and T20 form.
Shaun
Guest
Semantics... both team were at least one 1st choice player short - Faf for Duminy, Hastings for Siddle. Tony said that Aus were unlucky to lose due to injury in 1 test... I'm just pointing out that SA had just as significant an injury problem if not possibly more so. Neither side was 1st choice XI in the 3rd. Moving on...I'm sure Smith will be dreading facing Johnson on his current form. After all Johnson has broken his hand twice!
Chui
Guest
By full strength you mean having 11 fit guys on the field. Hardly the same as being able to field your first choice XI
Shaun
Guest
You quite conveniently forget that in the first test in Brisbane, Duminy was the nominated 5th bowler and spinner, pulled up injured in the warm up so South Africa played the whole match with only 4 quicks and 10 batsman. 2nd test Aus lost Pattinson only in the fourth innings and SA lost Kallis in the first innings (after 3.3 overs having picked up 2 wickets already). 3rd test was the only test where both teams were full strength. Nothing lucky about it
Adam
Guest
Warner has already shown he's moved on from just being a run a ball slogger
Tony Loedi
Roar Guru
Yeah Aussie were unlucky last series over here. Remember we should and probably would have won in Adelaide had Pattinson not gotten injured during the test, leaving us a bowler down. Plus because of the workload created by being a bowler down we had to rest our 2 best fast bowlers for the WACA, so we went into the Perth test with our top 3 quicks. It's no wonder we lost that test. Having said that it will be hard beating them over there, Our batting has be shocking overseas and it will be the key for us. Also we need to keep Amla and De Villiers in check they are crucial to the proteas
I am very much looking forward to the tests, the Indian test series is vital to us as we have not played much cricket this year and thus far there are questions in regards to our batting. Of concern is the form of Alviro Pietersen, Graeme Smith, FAF du Plessis and in particular Jaques Kallis. It is vital that they prove their form or find their form in the next two tests. Amla, de Villiers and JP Duminy seems in decent form, and the Bowlers look to be in fine fettle. Steyn in particular was brilliant in the ODI's against India in acting the role as strike bowler ala test cricket style rather than trying to be economical. He took 6 wickets for very few runs and his accuracy has been very impressive. His late swing in the second match started him off with a spell of sixteen balls before bat made co tact the first time. I would expect Australia to be in a confident mood when they arrive in SA, this should be a test series of high quality. Just a shame it is such a short test series.
Eddy Bramley
Roar Pro
I expect Mitchel Johnson to continue terrorising batsmen in South Africa. Him and David Warner probably the best in the world at their individual trades at the moment.
Johnno
Guest
Aussies have never lost a test series in South Africa, since South Africa came back to cricket in the 90's. So aussies seem to handle the conditions there, hard and fast pitches suit there game. Unlike rugby where we always struggle in 1 off games, a test tour in cricket we always seem to find our groove there and play well.