Australia v South Africa Test Series Preview.
So Australia are in South Africa and come up against the Proteas after losing to them 2-1 in Australia last month. I predicted Australia would beat them, so what a silly monkey I looked like, but my player predications, with the exclusion of Lee, was fairly spot on.
Australia go to South Africa with a team that I think no die hard Australian cricket support would have ever picked 18 months ago. Its a vastly different team then we’ve seen before with a lot of new and fresh faces. Gone is Matthew Hayden, who wisely retired before hanging on for what would have been another poor series. Lee is out with a bad back (or heart) and Symonds dropped for being a tool (again).
Some of the new faces includes 20-year old Phillip Hughes and 36-year old Bryce McGain. I don’t think we should expect too much from Hughes so early on, but like most, he’s an exciting prospect and couple well be one of the saviors for Australian cricket in the near future. With a first class average of 58, I’m sure he could make quite an impact in the series, but with the strength of the South African attack, its only fair to give him a little room for failure early on.
McGain is probably the old debutant most of us will ever see in a life time. I don’t know a great deal about him other than he’s doing a good job for Victoria in recent years. Deserves his spot and I hope he does well.
Marcus North will also be making his debut. The West Aussie boy (yay) will be making his debut at number 6 and will also provide some handy spin, seeing as Australia has not picked McGain for the first test as the pitch is not predicted to turn. He took a 6-for against a Presidents-XI last weekend, so hopefully he’ll be able to do well with both bat and ball.
Ben Hilfenhaus is also in for his first test. A good paceman from Tasmania, he should do ok.
Ok, so for predictions. This is not easy. Going on form and the fact that the series is in South Africa, I’d have to predict a 2-0 score line in favor of the South Africans. Its hard to see Australia not winning at least one test, but their inexperienced bowling line up; Bollinger (1), Siddle (4), Johnson (18), Hilfenhaus (0), have so few games between them, I stuggle to see them taking all 20 wickets. Of course is Johnson fires, which he does once a series, they may steal a game.
Top Australian batsman: Simon Katich
Top Australian bowler: Michael Johnson
Top South African batsman: Graeme Smith
Top South African bowler: Dale Steyn
Firstly, I’ve picked Johnson on the basis that he’s the most experienced, but with only 18 tests behind him, certainly not a sure thing. Katich has been the most consistent and form player over the last 3 year or so years. Expect his run to continue.
I could name a raft of player for South Africa who will do well, but Smith and Steyn are quality, and despite coming up against a weak Australia team, you still need the class players to get them out and score runs against them.
Either way this goes, its going to be a great series!
26/2/2009 - Thursday 10:50 am 
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