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First test in the tour of one of the old rivals, the South Africans, really is a shame this has been cut down to a two test series, really not fair for what should be a cracking contest. Capetown is traditionally quite a high scoring pitch, its not the usual South African seamers paradise and the spinners should have an impact as the game progresses. Bit in it for everyone.
The South Africans have the better team on paper, its a settled lineup littered with genuine stars of the game, but a lot of these guys havent played a first class game since the New Years test match, an 11 month lay off will take time to blow off the dust. Smith, De Villiers, Kallis, Morkel and the spearhead Steyn are all elite. Intrigue surrounds the team with the inclusion of some mature faces, Jacques Rudolph will open with Smith having not played a test since 2006. Hes scored buckets of runs in County Cricket and is fine form in the domestic game. The other is the Pakistani born leg spinner Tahir who will make his test debut at the ripe old age of 32. Hes been a journeyman of the worlds domestic scenes and has nearly 600 first class wickets, the first attacking South African spinner for a while.
The Australian start there campaign with a less settled, if a more conditioned team. Coming off a hard fought win in Sri Lanka and triumph in the limited overs stuff it should be a battle hardened outfit. The biggest selection decision will be whether the reliable Copeland is retained over the seeming invigorated Siddle. I'd stick with the medium pacer for the minute, the idea of Siddle and Johnson teaming up again doesnt fill me with confidence. The two keys for this side for mine is the spearhead Johnson and back to reliable Hussey. If Johnson fires up and gets the ball to tail back we have a genuine super star quick, if he self destructs we're in trouble. Hussey is my other key, he held the middle order together in Sri Lanka but has been exposed by the Steyn/Morkel duo before. This could be a tour in which he exorcises some demons.
South Africa (probable): 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Jacques Rudolph, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Ashwell Prince, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Imran Tahir, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Australia (probable): 1 Shane Watson, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Nathan Lyon
Weather is mostly clear, some rain expected for the first day. Im tipping the Aussies to triumph over what should be a rusty South Africa
The South Africans have the better team on paper, its a settled lineup littered with genuine stars of the game, but a lot of these guys havent played a first class game since the New Years test match, an 11 month lay off will take time to blow off the dust. Smith, De Villiers, Kallis, Morkel and the spearhead Steyn are all elite. Intrigue surrounds the team with the inclusion of some mature faces, Jacques Rudolph will open with Smith having not played a test since 2006. Hes scored buckets of runs in County Cricket and is fine form in the domestic game. The other is the Pakistani born leg spinner Tahir who will make his test debut at the ripe old age of 32. Hes been a journeyman of the worlds domestic scenes and has nearly 600 first class wickets, the first attacking South African spinner for a while.
The Australian start there campaign with a less settled, if a more conditioned team. Coming off a hard fought win in Sri Lanka and triumph in the limited overs stuff it should be a battle hardened outfit. The biggest selection decision will be whether the reliable Copeland is retained over the seeming invigorated Siddle. I'd stick with the medium pacer for the minute, the idea of Siddle and Johnson teaming up again doesnt fill me with confidence. The two keys for this side for mine is the spearhead Johnson and back to reliable Hussey. If Johnson fires up and gets the ball to tail back we have a genuine super star quick, if he self destructs we're in trouble. Hussey is my other key, he held the middle order together in Sri Lanka but has been exposed by the Steyn/Morkel duo before. This could be a tour in which he exorcises some demons.
South Africa (probable): 1 Graeme Smith (capt), 2 Jacques Rudolph, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Ashwell Prince, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Imran Tahir, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Lonwabo Tsotsobe.
Australia (probable): 1 Shane Watson, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Shaun Marsh, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Peter Siddle, 11 Nathan Lyon
Weather is mostly clear, some rain expected for the first day. Im tipping the Aussies to triumph over what should be a rusty South Africa
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