This is going to be one crackerjack of a series between two cricketing giants as South Africa host Australia for a three-match T20 series in their own backyard. Both these teams are eager to use this series as part of their preparation for the upcoming ICC World T20.
Gel together as a unit: Steve Smith
The newly appointed T20 skipper for Australia, Steven Smith clearly said, ”For us it's about playing some T20 cricket together, we haven't played a great deal of T20 over the last couple of years so it's a great opportunity for us to try and gel together as a unit before the World Cup.”
He also urged the South African curators to try and make the pitches a bit slow and turning keeping the T20 world cup in mind as the world cup is going to be held in India where the pitches are slow and spinner-friendly.
Smith also pointed out that the series loss to India is a thing of the past and they are only looking forward now. “It's about moving forward and trying to get everything going in the right direction before the World Cup” Smith Said.
The game has changed a lot: Smith
The skipper Steve Smith captained his team Sydney Sixers to Big Bash Glory in 2011, which was his first taste of captaincy but he conceded the fact that since then, the game has taken rapid strides forward. He said, “ I think it's changed a lot, guys have got so many different deliveries nowadays - slower-ball bouncers, wide yorkers, different kinds of slower balls, things like that. Guys are able to hit the ball 360 degrees, which is hard to stop. I just think the game has changed so much, it's moving forward and that's great.”
One of those ‘hard to stop’ guys is definitely the South African maestro AB de Villiers who recently smashed 71 off 29 balls opening the batting for South Africa in a T20 international against England. But according to Smith, they will have plans to outwit the maestro, however, he also acknowledged the fact that it’s tough to stop him when he gets into his groove.
Spin worries?
However, a key member of the Australian T20 squad Glenn Maxwell is worried about the threat of Imran Tahir as he feels that Australia have a dismal record against quality spin bowling. Even in the last edition of the T20 world cup, they struggled against the likes of Sunil Narine, Saeed Ajmal and Shahid Afridi.
But Maxwell also believes that they have the batting firepower to combat the threat of spin. He said, “We've got excellent players of spin in our team and guys that have got international experience in India. It's going to be key for us to have those guys perform well for us.” Maxwell also stressed upon the need to have a settled lineup for the upcoming series against the Proteas.
The swashbuckling batsman lamented the fact that Australia have played only eight T20 internationals since the 2014 T20 world cup and termed it a reason behind their inconsistent performances.
There is no doubt that the series is going to be an entertainer for sure. Performers like David Warner, Maxwell, Smith, de Villiers, Steyn and many more are there to set the series on fire with their exemplary skills. Both teams will try to get the better of the other and that makes this contest a gripping one for sure!!
