- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Over the past few weeks there has been a clear indication that not only Aussie cricket fans but the Australian cricket camp have rediscovered some much-needed confidence in their ability for the longer format of cricket.
A 5-0 whitewash of the English has undoubtedly led to this new-found belief, irrespective of the woes that befell them during 2013.
A few questions remain, however, when you consider the fact that Australia last won a Test match away from home on 23 April 2012 in Roseau, West Indies.
Certainly the return of form for Mitchell Johnson has generated a lot of positivity, as have the batting heroics of Brad Haddin, who ensured the Australian tail continued to wag during the Ashes series.
But instead of looking at the Australians and what they can do to the South Africans, let’s for a moment pretend the Test series will be played in South Africa and the No.1 team will actually have a say about how this series will pan out.
Pace attack
Over the past three years the South African bowling attack has been lethal in home conditions.
Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander in particular were severe in exploiting any weaknesses opposing batsmen may have had, and their figures speak for themselves.
Dale Steyn
Innings: 26
Wickets: 74
Average: 18.64
Strike rate: 41.1
Five-wicket hauls: 6
10-wicket hauls: 1
Vernon Philander
Innings: 20
Wickets: 62
Average: 15.24
Strike rate: 33.7
Five-wicket hauls: 6
10-wicket hauls: 1
Morne Morkel
Innings: 24
Wickets: 36
Average: 29.88
Strike rate: 61.6
The above bowlers will undoubtedly be the main attack Graeme Smith will employ against Australia. If South Africa feel a fourth seamer will be preferable to a spinner, Kyle Abbott will be the likely candidate to add value.
Abbott has only played one Test match due to the unavailability of Morne Morkel at the time and his Man of the Match winning performance brought him a return of 9-68.
His domestic first class career shows he has the credentials with 165 first class wickets at an average of 21.92 and a strike rate of 48.5.
From left field, if the Proteas decide to award form, then uncapped swing bowler Beuran Hendricks might see a call up.
This young man has been in scintillating form over the past year. His 20 wickets at an average of 17.65 and strike rate of 34.4 in the Sunfoil series so far this summer carried over into the current Ramslam T20 tournament, where he is the leading wicket-taker with 21 wickets from eight matches.
Spin bowling
In home conditions Robin Peterson has been passible, even though not the biggest spinner of a ball or the most accurate.
Peterson will most likely make up the spin component for South Africa, with his 10 bowling innings at home since 2011 accounting for 15 wickets at 32.46 with a strike rate of 67.3.
Batting
South Africa will rely heavily upon Graeme Smith, Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers and FAF du Plessis to score the majority of runs.
Graeme Smith
Innings: 22
Runs: 708
Average: 37.26
100s: 1
50s: 4
Strike rate: 61.88
Alviro Petersen
Innings: 15
Runs: 545
Average: 41.92
100s: 2
50s: 2
Strike rate: 52.75
Hashim Amla
Innings: 20
Runs: 944
Average: 49.68
100s: 3
50s: 7
Strike rate: 56.79
AB de Villiers
Innings: 19
Runs: 1179
Average: 70.41
100s: 4
50s: 8
Strike rate 59.19
FAF du Plessis
Innings: 9
Runs: 462
Average: 51.33
100s: 2
Strike rate: 46.24
Of concern for South Africa will be the poor form of JP Duminy – if commonsense prevails he should not get a look in.
Both Quinton de Kock and Rilee Rossouw are both in excellent form with the bat and should be given the chance to make their case, regardless of their lack of experience at Test level.
Steyn, Philander and Peterson have contributed decently with the bat in home conditions over the past three years and all average above 25 with bat in hand.
In their past 26 innings at home, South Africa has only failed three times to take 10 wickets – interestingly, they didn’t need a lot of runs to beat teams. In the last three years at home, they only scored a tad over 500 runs per Test to be successful.
This upcoming series will be of high importance to both teams. Australia will want to measure themselves against the current best Test team and validate their dismissal of England as not being a one-off.
South Africa, on the other hand, will want to prove they can remain the No.1 team for some time to come after the loss of Jacques Kallis.
It is important from a South African point of view that the dead wood be cut and promising younger players be afforded the opportunity to establish themselves.
The only way they will continue their reign as the Test cricket No.1 will be with 11 players performing both as individuals and as a team.
Hopefully this will be the opportunity for Australian fans to witness the talent of youngsters such as Abbott, Hendricks, Rillee and de Kock.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.