South Africa vs Australia 2018: 3 key factors ahead of the Test series

The 22 yards

The pitch could be a big factor in determining the result

In recent times, the focus before a high-profile series has always been on the playing surface and it won’t be any different in this series as well. There was severe criticism from all quarters for the pitches prepared during the India series, that even led to the ICC declaring the one prepared for the final Test at Wanderers as “poor”. There was too much help for the fast bowlers and batsmen from both sides copped a lot of body blows right through the match.

It's a no-brainer as to what sort of surface South Africa prepares for the Australia series. Knowing very well about the potent Aussie pace attack, the Proteas are likely to provide dry and slow wickets which will not only keep their quick men at bay, but as history suggests, will see their batsmen struggle to get going on sluggish surfaces.

The first three Test will be played in the coastal areas of South Africa, and during the latter stages of the summer, the wickets are more likely to be drier. This is where spinners might play a crucial role through the series.

Australia certainly has a huge advantage in that department as Nathan Lyon is probably in the form of his life and his partnership with three fast bowlers has proved to be very lethal for opposition batsmen in the last year or so. If Lyon finds his rhythm early on in the series, Smith’s men could very well maintain their unbeaten record on South African shores since the latter's re-admission into cricket.