Preview : Australia tour of South Africa

A new coach, new captain(s) and a new beginning – perfect base to set up a high rise building reaching up to the skies. South Africa, post once again becoming ‘chokers‘, seem to be blooming with eagerness and talents to face the fresh looking Australia who are now a unit with players willing to excel, a team ready to strike the chord again.

There is no stake for the rankings in a series with just 3 ODI’s and 2 test matches but then there is pride. Getting back to winning ways after a long relaxation period (since world cup) and continuing to keep up the momentum and performing in away conditions to keep critics shut, will be the key for South Africa and Australia respectively. It’s going to be a series between the ‘rusty’ Proteas and the Aussies with a ‘new-look outfit’ (literally as well).

The recent rule changes will have an impact on the game plan though. But this might be an added advantage for both the teams as they are now to be led by a new captain and a new coach; though they might have been a regular with the team, they are now directly put under a new thinking hat.

With the South African pitches/grounds normally seam and bounce friendly, there will be plenty to watch out from the top order batsmen of both teams who grew-up on such conditions. A perfect platform to prove their mettle for players like James Pattinson and Patrick Cummins.

More than the players, all eyes will be on Gary Kirsten when he begins his tenure as the coach of his home team post a successful 3 years building up to world cup victory with India. Rightly so, CSA have appointed AB de Villiers as the new Limited over’s captain so as to develop a new bond, a new setup to the whole South African coaching ways and approach to the game. Alas! The injury worm is continuing to cast its spell not only on Indian players but also on players who come to India. An attacking middle order batsman, an ever improving wicket keeper, AB de Villiers took to Dhoni as his role model in leading his side combined with his skills only to be ruled out of the entire series owing to injury he took to playing for RCB in CLT20 which keeps his captaincy stint shifted. Its not just captaincy but the role behind the stumps became a question mark once Davey Jacobs too was injured. Selectors looked back to the most experience Mark Boucher again.

Teams

AUSTRALIA –

Post the Argus review, it’s been an upswing for the Australian side so far, despite many criticizing the report. There has been some good number of finds and precisely, replacements with right talents are available. With the recent ‘Man of the Series’ performance, the new full time captain in Michael Clarke should be confident enough with the way his batting is viewed and also the response he got from the new faces as well as his predecessor. Though Australia is not a great Twenty20 side, the absence of Dale Steyn in the opposition tent should be a blessing in disguise. Their only worry would be not getting a permanent coach in time for the bigger series.

Players to watch out:

Patrick Cummins – He will be worth the talk of his new T20 captain post his successful stint in the batsmen-only friendly pitches of the CL T20.

Shaun Marsh – A quick to adapt to conditions player, Marsh has been giving a tough contest for the No.3 slot for Ponting and can as well be looked as a replacement opener if required.

David Warner – Coming from back-to-back centuries, Warner now has huge backing from both his captains and the selectors and he has proved his worth at the top and ready to share the load with Watson.

Watch out your Performance:

Cameron White – Though the selectors have had confidence on White and have given him the T20 captaincy, White has not been amongst runs recently and that is one reason he being left out of the 50 over’s series.

Steven Smith – More of a handy part-time spinner than a specialist middle order, Smith’s inclusion in the side is mostly on his fielding skills and his batting prowess is under scrutiny in recent times.

Rusty Performers:

Ricky Ponting – After telling his wish to continue playing at the No.3 slot, Ponting has been pushed down to accommodate Shaun Marsh. Dropped from captaincy after a row of low scores in all formats, Ponting has to play cautious and big in order to not follow Simon Katich.

Mitchell Johnson – The spearhead of the Australian attack and the one who is expected to lead the debutants, Johnson was not in great touch right from the Ashes till the last series against Sri Lanka. But expectation has grown that he will get back to his form in South African conditions.

SOUTH AFRICA –

Not much competitive cricket being played post their world cup debacle, South Africa look to those players who were active through IPL and CLT20. But both their captains Hashim Amla and Graeme Smith were out of action and curiosity grows on how well they will lead their team as one is relatively new for the job and the latter comes back after a knee surgery. Hashim Amla, initially appointed deputy to de Villiers will now debut as skipper instead. But doubts on his captaincy overcasts his batting prowess. Amla may be a timely and clean hitter of the ball and a reliable opening batsman but never have been thought as one who could lead the team and that too against the mighty Aussies in the first place. Gary Kirsten as a coach might give a slight advantage to the team though.

Players to watch out:

Imran Tahir – From the time he broke into the international scene, Tahir had been a match winner for South Africa. The most difficult test lays ahead of him when he faces the likes of Hussey, Clarke and Ponting on pitches which don’t give much of an assistance to spin.

Richard Levi – Performed well in the domestic tournaments and caught the selector’s eye and he is tipped to take up the position of AB de Villiers in the batting order in the T20.

Watch out your Performance:

Mark Boucher – The absence of de Villiers and Jacobs brought Boucher back into the ODI tournament. His performances behind stumps were never under question but his batting has always been. Boucher has to use the 3 matches he has got to prove his fitness and form.

Rusty Performers:

Graeme Smith – Getting back from knee surgery and directly facing the biggest opposition can bring jitters but not for Smith though. Being the home series, Smith will be expected to get to his usual stuff right on top

All in all, this series, though a shorter one, is going to be a spar between two all time top teams and will be series where some great results will be expected as the whole world is dumbstruck post a whitewash.