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.
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