Australia vs South Africa: Current combined Test XI

#4 Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla will be a rock for the batting order of the team

Hashim Amla should walk in below him as the stabiliser. Amla has been nothing short of a revelation and excels on any surface. His ability to dominate bowling attacks with his wristy strokes and perfect cover drives make him a major headache for bowlers. Amla will be the wall for South Africa in this series in the absence of ABD.

His ability to dig into the attack and build big partnerships makes him the vital cog in the middle order. His expected battle with Mitchell Starc’s inswingers forms the perfect backdrop for this Test series.

#5 Faf Du Plessis

Faf Du Plessis is my choice for skipper of this combined eleven. While he is a stand-in skipper in the absence of De Villiers, I feel he is a much better captain than both Smith and De Villiers. He is a natural leader with a strong will. No one can forget his mammoth innings the last time he toured Down Under in his debut series.

That sort of composure doesn't come easy and it makes Faf a worthy skipper. His ability with the willow is also not a question. He has been in fine nick of late notching up some fine scores against the visiting Kiwis. Du Plessis also scored a hundred against the Aussies in the ODI series in South Africa.

#6 Adam Voges

The lower middle order would be occupied by Adam Voges and wicketkeeper, Quinton De Kock. Voges had a Bradman-esque run in the Test side before Australia toured Sri Lanka. While he may have filtered in the sub-continent, his experience of Australian conditions and form prior to that series suggests that Voges will be a rock at the bottom half.

His ability to vary the pace of scoring makes him a dangerous batsman. Voges will need to act as the glue between the top order and tail and will have to stick around till the end to provide some valuable runs. His recent form suggests he will be a real force to reckon with for the South African pace attack.

#7 Quinton De Kock

Quinton De Kock is easily the Gilly of this South African line-up. While he opened in the series against New Zealand, that is unlikely to continue here. He should walk in at his favoured no.7 slot and guide the tail.

The South African is one terrific find for the Africans and easily edges out Peter Nevill as the wicketkeeper of this combined XI. He has warmed up to the series with a brilliant hundred in the day-night match against Cricket Australia XI. When on song, he is a treat to watch and none would know it better than the Aussies whom he hammered around while making 178 in an ODI recently.