Despite a number of question marks hanging over player fitness and the batting line-up, Australia have departed to South Africa for their three-Test series against the number one Test team in the world.
Their full of confidence knowing that similar conditions in the Republic will suit their style of play.
Statistics show Australia have never lost to South Africa in a Test series since their readmission in the early 1990s and many say the responsibility for repeating past victories will come down to what skipper Michael Clarke has labelled “the best pace attack in the world.”
“We had a brief conversation before the first Test (against England) and I said to the three fast bowlers that in my opinion they are the best attack in the world,” Clarke said.
“I think they have earned that mantle.”
Australia have a more versatile attack, they play more aggressive cricket and have a superior captain but all these advantages will count for nothing if the batsmen don’t provide both the bowlers and captain with enough runs.
Batting is the skill that will either make or break this South African tour.
The dropping of George Bailey means the batting line-up is up in the air and while backing Shane Watson to get the job done in South Africa, Michael Clarke still isn’t certain who will bat in the most important no.3 position offering a vague “no” when asked if he has decided who will bat at the fall of the first wicket.
Despite criticism of the selection of Shaun Marsh and Alex Doolan ahead of the Phillip Hughes, Clarke may choose to start the series with Marsh at six, as he’s unlikely to be troubled by spin (his weaker department), with South Africa tending to rely heavily on their seamers.
It was only a matter of weeks ago that Marsh described his Shield form as “really inconsistent this season” and declared that there were “a lot of guys ahead of me” in the Test queue, but the selectors seem to have disagreed and pending fitness concerns.
Cricket wise, temperature wise and conditions wise these two Test nations will put on one hell of a show but as we saw with some of the English players throughout the Australian summer, the highs and lows Test cricket provide could spell the end of a career for some just as easily as they could set ones career up for life.
Test squad
Michael Clarke (capt), Brad Haddin (vice-capt), Jackson Bird, Alex Doolan, Moises Henriques, Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Marsh, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, Steven Smith, David Warner, Shane Watson.
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