Top 10 reasons for Australia loss to South Africa at Port Elizabeth

South Africa has been able to come back and level the 3 test match series which now stands at 1-1 after 2 matches. South Africa won the 2nd test match played at Port Elizabeth on 4th day by 231 runs margin.

It was a good performance performance from the home team who rode on performances by Hashim Amla in batting and impressive Dale Steyn while bowling.

Dale Steyn, fastest  bowling spell demolished Australia
as he picked up 4 wickets for 55 runs

When I sit to find out the reasons for defeat of Australia, I found some of them:

1. Slow Wicket - Australia have always been vulnerable when cricket match takes place on low and slow wicket. Their record in Indian subcontinent is a proof of it. Lack of quality spinner after the retirement of great leg spinner Shane Warne, and inability of batsmen to play a bit late i.e. to wait a bit longer for ball to arrive on a slow wicket, are the main contributors towards bad performances on wickets that lack pace.

2. Inability of bowlers - To deliver on a wicket where no ready-made assistance is available from the pitch, fast bowlers need to show more skills and they need to show that they have more in them then extracting pace and bounce off the pitch. The reverse swing comes handy. In the past Aussie bowlers showed that they have capability to reverse swing the ball, especially on their tours to India. But in South Africa they did not manage to achieve it as much as South African bowlers did. Result - Australian bowlers found picking up 11 South African wickets a bit too difficult a task.

3. Batting Failure - Australian openers started off well in chase of 478 runs to win the test match and series after captain Graeme Smith declared bit too early for the liking of some of the cricket experts. Openers, David Warner and Chris Rogers put up opening stand of 126 runs. But they failed to carry on, which is crucial in big chases, and after that it was collapse. Shaun Marsh has developed habit of scoring ducks, something ducks won't be happy about.

4. Complacency - This is where this team is incomparable to the great Australian team of previous years. Australian cricket teams of past were known to keep down their opponents when they had them down. There was no let up. But under Michael Clarke, barring the recent Ashes series win, this has been the norm. Clarke has also failed to prove himself as a proactive captain and has often seen waiting for things to happen themselves.

5. Home run by a home team - Over the last couple of years home teams have been difficult to beat. Be it India's whitewashes in England or Australia or Australia's 4-0 loss in India, its always a home team who has had a an upper hand over the visiting team on a cricket field. Defensive captains who just don't know what to do with their wards once they got out of their comfort zone of home environment is the main reason for it.

6. Mosquito's and Sleepless nights - Once an Australia captain made an excuse when he lost a test series in India. "Throughout the series our players haven't been able to sleep properly due to mosquito bites late nights and hence they were unable to perform at their best due to lack of sleep," he said at the post match presentation. Maybe Aussies are encountering mosquito's in African Safari.

7. IPL 7 on mind - Cash rich t-20 cricket league, the Indian Premiere League (IPL) is about to take off in few month's time. More dollars will be deposited into the accounts of the players. It must be difficult for Aussie players to concentrate in a test match arena when they are about to get millions of dollars for spending just 20 and few more overs on a cricket field.

8. Johnson Mustache length - Mitchell Johnson just started to do well after he grew Mustache of certain length. An erratic bowlers suddenly found his line and length, sorry bounce, to trouble all batsmen, especially poms.  But the length is important. It has happened to Shikhar Dhawan, the opening batsmen of India, as well. Both need too make sure that Mustache is of perfect length, otherwise they might loose their form which they gained by growing it.

9. Cool Killer Amla is hungry again - Over the course of last 2 series Hashim Amla was seen loosing his wicket in a strange manner. He was getting bowled out by leaving the ball, ducking the ball, and swaying away from the ball, as if ball was coming to kill him and he became so nervous that he forgot to stop it with his bat. But in Port Elizabeth Hashim Amla was reminder by someone, possibly by AB De Villiers, what a cool customer he has been over the years. He is out on the road again with his secret weapon. Watch out Australia!

10. Michael Clarke praised by Ian Chappell - Not the first time it has happened and it won't be the last time that the former Australian Captain writes a column to show that his countrymen is a better captain than the other captain and the praised captain is fallen into the well. Just a day ago Ian Chappell wrote in 'espn cricinfo'  that MS Dhoni's time is over and he needs to go. He compared how Michael Clarke is better than Indan captain.

See: Will MS Dhoni resign from Indian Cricket Captaincy

One can find many reasons for Australia's humiliating loss to South Africa. Australia now needs to show that it was one off and that they are capable of making a come back just like the number 1 ranked team in ICC rankings has shown us. In the end one has to say: "Well Played South Africa!"

Poor technique galore against fast bowling, Australia v South Africa test series

Just when Indian X cricketers were busy criticising young Indian batsmen  for their poor technique to play fast bowling, I was watching South Africa vs Australia test series on television.

One thing I was carefully looking for was how Australians, South African batsmen play fast bowling so that I can compose an article comparing the techniques of Indian batsmen and them, and can pinpoint what exactly Australia and South Africa batsmen do well that they handle the short pitch fast bowling much better than the Indian batsmen. I was very disappointed and even confused with what I saw. 

Chris Rogers, Australia Opener, needs to show
more than a fancy footwork to survive against
fast bowling of South Africa to prove he is better than
Shikhar Dhwan of India.

I have no doubt, with what I saw on TV, that Indian young batsmen, in particular Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara, and Ajinkya Rahane displayed much better technique and temperament than South African and Australian batsmen while facing a fast bowler. Even Shikhar Dhawan looked better than what openers Graeme Smith and Chris Rogers are looking at the moment. Even the pitches are comparatively flatter in this series, no doubt about it, then what we saw in South Africa vs India series recently.

In the first match of the series, Mitchell Johnson proved too much to handle for South African batsmen. Hashim Amla, Grame Smith, all are in sixes and sevens when facing him. Other bowlers also took advantage of fear created by Mitch in South African batsmen and they picked some easy scalps too.

On second day of 2nd test between Australia and South Africa, being played at Port Elizabeth, South African fast men were all over the Aussie batsmen. Only adventurous David Warner was able to score some runs, with outside and inside edges mostly, while other 4 top order batsmen went back to pavilion by loosing their wickets due to poor technique rather than great bowling.

Seeing these batsmen, who are supposed to have the best technique against fast bowling, struggle so miserably and who are looking completely out of control, one wonder why all hell breaks out when some of Indian young batsmen, likes of Suresh Raina and Shikhar Dhawan, gets out to faster bowlers. They also don't face quick bowlers too often as they play more of their cricket on turning (not flat) Indian pitches. Clearly, double standards are adopted while judging players of India to others.

Also there has to be some balance when techniques are judged. Over the years Indian batsmen have mustered more runs in Australia and South Africa than the batsmen of those countries have managed to score on turning tracks in India. Indian batsmen,Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar, leading test runs getters, have plundered runs all over the world. Same can't be said about non-indians when it comes to their performance in India. For example, a modern day great batsmen 'Ricky Ponting' of Australia, hardly managed an average with bat in India that can be called respectable. Ponting's average in India is 26.48 while his overall average is 51.85 runs.

Boring Slow Pitch Robs fans 2nd Test, South Africa v Australia, Port Elizabeth

South Africa limped to 214-5 at the end of first day's play of test match between South Africa and Australia. at Port Elizabeth. It was a day which every cricket fan wished never came in their life. The pitch was a real villain.

For a series that was seen as a platform to find out who is the best fast bowling attack in the world, between Australia and South Africa, the cricket pitch dished out by the curator was a big disappointment. It was painfully slow. Even Mitchell Johnson looked as slow as Vernon Philander. The ball barely bounced higher than the waist and shots were difficult to time for the batsmen.

May be it was a well thought tactic from South African team management. The inability the host batsmen showed in first test against short pitch bowling of Australia seems to have sent message to pitch curator "We want low and slow wicket. Mitch is too hot to handle!" But looking at how match stands at the end of first day's play, the pitch hasn't quite helped South Africa's cause. Instead it is Australia who seems to have a upper hand in match, even though fast and furious Mitchell Johnson has managed on 1 wicket (Hashim Amla) thus far.

AB De Villiers and Deal Elgar played well for South Africa and gave the scoreboard some good look. The scorecard at stumps on day 1 looked like this :

Cricket Score Card, Australia vs South Africa, 2nd test Day 1 Stumps

Dean Elgar played well, mostly defensively against seam bowlers and occasionally attacking to spinner Nathan Lyon, for 83. AB de Villers, batting on 51 not out, continued his good form with fine half century creating a new world record of scoring half centuries in 12 consecutive test matches. He shared the record with Viv Richards, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir before this fifty.

Nathan Lyon talked about the pitch and what he makes of the day's play. He said that they knew this would be a very difficult pitch to bowl on, and he is happy with the control they have maintained, and stoked that they got those two bonus wickets when they were waiting for the new ball.

It was a hard fought day of cricket on a disappointing spirit sapping pitch. Australia will be feeling better about today, but you mustn't forget that AB de Villiers is still out there.

Pitch  gave South African cricket fans to make a shout "Mitch who? So much for the over-hyped Australian bowling attack. On a green, seaming pitch with overcast conditions they have hardly made a dent. SA march on and get stronger by the hour. What was really disappointing was watching Lyon bowling around the wicket, targeting leg stump and on the pads - so negative, very un-Australian. Couldn't help noticing Harris leaving the field with a tweak and Smith was right Centurion totally suited Johnson, but maybe he can get some more tail-ender wickets here yet. Mind you both are in the their mid thirties now anyway and injuries are part of that age category," said McKenjie.

But Am I hearing complains about the pitch from Australians. So all the Aussies, complaining about the pitch. Are you saying that your Mitch is just a one-type-of-pitch-wonder, and cannot perform consistently across all sorts of pitches? Unlike Dale Steyn, who has great figures over a protracted period of time, even on the subcontinental road pitches? He did not even look remotely threatening for frightening today, even the raw and inexperienced Elgar played him out without giving any chances.

In reality test match still in the balance here, but it seems to be a peculiarly flat and lifeless wicket. I wonder why? :-) How things have changed! I'm sure the SA quicks will not be looking forward to bowling here, and if Philander is carrying any injury it could be a real issue, because SA only have four bowlers (unless I'm missing someone). Still, if they get 300+ it is still runs on the board that AUS have to get. Lehman says the pitch is pretty good with plenty of grass but very dry underneath. That means it should spin later on, but probably won't break up too much. But do SA have a spinner who can take advantage of bowling last?

Graeme Smith terms Mitchell Johnson a useless bowler, South Africa V Australia, 2nd test Port Elizabeth

Mitchell Johnson, the fast and furious bowler of Australia, is at the top of his game and firing all cylinders. But South Africa cricket captain Graeme Smith might have just irked Johns when he termed him a 'useless' bowler. On a day before the start of 2nd test match between South Africa and Australia at Port Elizabeth, Graeme Smith said: "I truly believe that the wicket played a big role in the success that he had. The stats, even in the Ashes, say that he picked up a lot of lower-order wickets."

Graeme Smith looking at heavens and thinking if johnson will brake his hand
even as he makes a comment that will not go well with johnson

More I read the statement made by Smith more I believe that Smith has lost his composure and uttering useless words due to nervousness of facing the speedster first up in the morning of a test match. Or Is he thinking of himself as a lower order batsmen. Well he might, the way he got out fending couple of bouncers in the first test at centurion.

Michael Clarke on the other had looked pretty calm and was sensible in his assessment of pitch and seemed clear in his head with what he is going to do during the course of next 5 days. The pitch looked greener than the normal Port Elizabeth cricket pitch. "I think if the wicket stays like it is it will be a three-dayer, expecially with two fantastic bowling attacks. So I don't think it will stay like that," opined Michael Clarke, captain of Australia.

Unless South Africa batsmen  improve their technique against fast and bouncy short pitch bowling, it is hard to see how the currently ranked number team in ICC test ranking can manage to not to loose some more rating points. The form Mitchell Johnson is in at the moment, pitch will not make any difference.

May be South African's are going for a lottery. They know that they have no chance against the Australia's pace attack and the best option is to design a pitch that is 'bad' and 'nasty'. The next thing they are hoping for is to win the toss and put Australia in, if pitch remains green. Or if it is designed to crumble after 1 day, happens on a bad surface, South Africa might bat first. But 'who will win the toss?' is just about anybody's guess and planning strategies based on assumption of winning the toss can be self destructive.

My take on SteynVSJohnson is bit different. Steyn has kinda given up and Johnson is improving ball by ball. He has continued with sheer pace and breath taking bouncers and this is why he's been succeeding. However it is fear of being injured and end up in Hospital. Ryan Harris is Bowling good line and length which is also complementing all the effort put up by Johnson. Clark & co have a very good chance of winning the second test if they put up big scores and leave rest on the pace attack!

This is the first time in a long time that I am negative about the Proteas' chances. Alviro Petersen is not nowhere in form, in fact a walking wicket. Elgar is just not test standard (one good innings in test cricket vs NZ, but he was dropped early). Under the high ball he looked like a primary school boy. I simply have lost all confidence in him.Then rather Wayne Parnell - at least he can bowl. Steyn always has some or other injury, the latest jippo guts. What next? Philander looks as if he is sleep walking, bowling military medium on the legs and Morkel, well Morkel is just Morkel. Robbie P can talk the talk and he and JP Duminy are totally out of their league. JP has the worse average of any no 6 playing for SA since WW II. None of them in the team on merit. Apart from The Oval vs Eng, Amla scored the bulk of his runs after having been dropped, sometimes twice. Will that happen against Aus? Not likely! Last night I dreamt that AB went first ball. I woke up in a sweat!

Cricket Australia must be shameful of their performances in India

Australian cricket is riding on one man's shoulder at the moment - Mitchell Johnson. It is making australian cricket look as if their golden days are back. But in real, things are entirely different. Aussies can't be accepted as champions until they improve their pathetic cricket record in India.

In last 50 years, Australia has won only 1 test series in India. That too was marred with controversy and crucial players missing out from India's cricket team. Due to fight between cricket association at Nagpur and BCCI, the curator was ordered to prepare a track completely suited to visitors. Not a single ball turned and it was all green. Australia fielders claimed one bounce catches, appealed profusely and shamelessly, and took advantage of not having to face Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. Also there was honest (only in context of aussies) and mad (in context of indians) australian media publishing stories and events which never happened. Also they were assisted by some former Indian Captains who think they will get a free pass to clubs in Australia if they join India's opponents in criticising the indian captain. The captain of India, then, was Saurav Ganguly, a man who got Steve Waugh mentally deteriorated.

Steve Waugh got mentally disturbed by a young captain, Sourav Ganguly

It's not only the number of test wins, which are very few in India for aussies, but the pathetic show that their batsmen and bowlers have put on display. Ricky Ponting, the great aussie, managed to average a mediocre 20 odd despite touring more than thrice to the shores of country on whose name indian ocean is named. There is no Australia ocean, of course. Shane Warne, the so called great leg spinner, managed average of about 45 with the bowl. Less said about other's records, the better it is for Aussies.

The shambolic performances put up by Australia, and also by likes of England, South Africa, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, over the years, and the way they shout about India's overseas performance's, shows that they are mentally disturbed, at least the cricket analysts and cricket fans of these countries.

Just last year, after ridiculing India's performance in Australia, Cricket Australia's boys put up such a pathetic display of cricket, loosing 4-0 and no match lasting more than 3 days, that made one wonder if the wins of Australia vs India in Australia was real or fluke.

It is high time Australia improve their performance in India. It will happen only when Australia improves its domestic cricket and prepare pitches that spin. This will help producing spinners of worthwhile class and batsmen who can survive more than 6 balls while facing them. It's laughable how Australia's batsmen play a spinning ball. South Africa, New Zealand, England batsmen are equally pathetic. They say that even a sun can rise from west, but the dog's tail cannot become straight. Same is the case of overseas batsmen playing in India.

Can South Africa batsmen overcome Mitchell Johnson's fear

South Africa has comprehensively lost first test match against Australia in 2014 test series. The chief destroyer of South Africa was Mitchell Johnson, the man who is racking havoc in minds and hearts of opposition batsmen with shear pace and intensity of his bowling. The newly grown big moustache has certainly converted him into an angry young man and he is in no mood to take the paddle off. Given how he ran through England's batting line up and left them battered and bruised at the end of Ashes series, the South African batsmen will be really nervous facing him.

Graeme Smith, needs to do more than just
speaking positive things. He need to lead from the front
for South Africa and counter attack Mitchell Johnson

But South Africa has to stand up and show the world that their batsmen have the technique and temperament to face Mitchell Johnson. Not only face him but that they can dominate him. This is because domination will be required for South Africa to come back in 3 match test series. South Africa will surely don't want to loose to the team who is seen as undisputed champions of cricket, whatever the ICC ranking may be.

But who can do it for South Africa cricket? Which batsmen have the guts to stand up to the pace battery of Australia. This is not an Indian bowling attack, with no teeth, that even a mouse can dare to walk the talk. Proper technique, guts, determination, guards of all sorts, and something more is needed to save the face.

Certain scars will definitely not heal quickly. Before i start my point, i am not suggesting South Africa drop Smith, but if this was a 5 test, or back to back series, and he continued to fail against one bowler, MJ, at what point do you decide yes normally he is worth his place, but not against this bloke? Was Atherton worth his place against McGrath? Cullinan against Warne? Dennis Amiss went from a record breaking year to being dropped because of Lillee! Nobody would have argued that he wasn't England's best batsman at the time, but we acknowledged he wasn't even worth his place if Dennis was bowling! Bowlers get changed for horses for courses conditions, but do selectors often enough decide that we know batsman is one of our best, but he is a walking wicket against him? Again, this is a general point rather than one aimed at Smith, a South African great.
After the retirement of  one of the great cricketers'in Jaques Kallis, the South African cricket team is not looking quite strong. Alviro Petersen, GraemeSmith don't look like solid openers against a incisive bowling attack. Hashim Amla is out of form at wrong time. Only AB de Villiers won't be able to save south africa from shame.

May be south africa can unearth a fast bowler as intimidating as Mitchell Johnson and give Aussies something to fear about. But Aussies are like mad kangaroos at the moment and look ready to dethrone even the African lion in its own territory.

The talks of Morne vs Johnson, for a long time Morne Morkel has always had the ability to bounce batsmen at good pace but is so stuck in a rythme of line and length that he cannot be hostile, add to his temperament as being somewhat gentlemanly its not in his make up, the last factor is he is a traditional over the top fast bowler. Johnson is a lot like Akhtar just not as devastating, Shoaib in his pomp was up to mid 150's and had the inswinging yorker that blew away Langer, Hayden, Pontings et al in the great Australian years. Akhtar was feared because he doesn't have control and Johnson brings that back, the element of getting hit.

Dale Steyn is not to blame other than if they knew he was injured and ill he should not have played.
The approach against short-pitch ball is NOT "Get the heck out of the way as soon as you see where it is about to pitch". It is "Get a 1st view of the height the ball is about to take and THEN Get the heck out of the way". There is NO EXTRA REWARD for getting out of the way EARLIER than NECESSARY. All these hits to the helmet and dangerous areas of the body are always because of that.

I see too often batsmen try to SHOW OFF how good they are against bouncers by taking evasive action way too soon - as if to ANNOY the bowler that they are very good against bouncers and SAW it WAY too EARLY - as if trying to tell the bowler "Bowling bouncers to them is useless". Not a good strategy.

For bowlers around the world who feel left out and down by all this "This is Johnson's World and We are Living in it hoopla" - I have suggestion for you. COPY, COPY, COPY - Copy his STEELY BICEPS and FOREARM. Has anybody seen any FAT CELL in them ? Not me.

By the way, are those TATOOS on his RIGHT hand distracting to the batsmen and should be banned ? Just a thought.

I thought - except Petersen, De Villiers, and Faf du Plessis - everybody else got themselves out in the 1st innings. Getting out of harms way of a bouncer is also a valid strategy - instead of always hoping to attack it. SA was probably thinking they were still playing against India. 

As an SA fan, firstly congrats to Aus. Johnson was truly awesome, operating at a level few have reached in the history of the game. Not great to see SA get destroyed but as a cricket lover it's good to see real pace as it's so rare. Good to see Marsh getting runs too.

From an SA perspective my heart sank as soon as I saw McLaren and Peterson in the team. Bits and pieces players. Peterson's 'spin' is no better than Duminy's in SA so replace him with a batsman like Van Zyl or Elgar. Philander is a containing bowler once the ball is old so the 4th seamer needs to be Parnell, Abbott or Beuran Hendricks, maybe De Lange in the longer term.

But it's also clear that this team is coming to the end of it's cycle. Kallis gone, Smith near the end, Steyn has more niggles and can't ramp it up as often as 5 years ago. Young talent needs to be brought in soon to rebuild.

But whatever we do, if Johnson bowls like that again, particularly if the pitches have variable bounce, then Aus will win 3-0.

Mitchell Johnson make South Africa batsmen dance on his tune - South Africa vs Australia Day 2 scorecard centurion test

Mitchell Johnson continued to expose the overrated opponent batsmen, who are supposed to have good technique against pace and bounce, with his hostile spell of 4 wickets for 52 runs at centurion on day 2 of first test match between Australia and South Africa.

fired-up mitchell johnson bullied south africa

The scorecard at the stumps on day 2 read South Africa 140/6 in their first innings. Earlier Australia were bowled out for 397 runs in their first innings with dale steyn claiming 4 wickets for 78 runs. The detailed scorecard looked like this at the end of second day:

Australia vs South Africa scorecard, centurion test 2014, day 2 stumps

South African batsmen never looked settled against constant short pitch bowling from Mitchell Johson. Graeme Smith, in particular, looked like a sitting duck with both legs tied together when facing bowling of Australia. His misery ended when he got out awkwardly fending off a bouncer directed in rib cage by johnson in his first spell. Petersen was next to go playing bad shot to get out. Hashim Amla continued his poor form with bat and was again got out at low score after scoring series of low scores in last series against India. Short ball again claimed Faf du Plesis as he chose to sit in comfort of dressing room rather than guts it out in the middle. Duminy threw his wicket away against a spin of Nathan Lyon. At the end of second day AB de Villiers was on the crease batting not out on 52 along with Robin Peterson batting at 10.

Overall it was australia's day and cricket fans had much to say.

steve48 says: "The way he bowls at the tail, MJ on fir an 8 for! I am a proud Pom, but have followed this guy since Dennis Lillee made his prediction; having read 'The Art of Fast Bowling ' as a kid, and watched him terrorise my then hero Dennis Amiss, I figured he knew what he was on about! Always suspected he would eventually ram our taunts down our throats, cos when he gets it right, no batsman seems safe, of body or stumps! No offence to South Africa, but nice to see its not just us English who struggle with his pace, aggression and angle. Can't have been a quicker left armer, with all due respect to wasim akram, the most skilled quick I think I have seen. So much on DeVilliers now, then if Steyn is fit and firing, could be a few twists left in this game. But ABD really needs to protect that tail. MJ made Swann and Broad look like Phil Tufnell!"

Paul-Rone Clarke says: "Some small vindication from those who asserted that wasn't just England being really poor that cost them the ashes The MJ factor played a big part.
Smith and Marsh batted well, but the extra 5kmph that MJ gets above Steyn or Morkel pushes the comfort envelope of all but the most extremely good of batsmen. Small margins make big differences in cricket.

How many people were amazed when the radar gun first began to find that a spinner bowls at 60%+ the speed of a seamer? Warne bowls 60 McGrath bowled 84 - you'd swear the ratio must be far higher than that. So it is with the extra pace MJ brings. 4 mph might as well be all the difference in the world. He looks so much more threatening than Steyn or Morkel you'd think they were playing on different pitches
For SA DeVilliers is a class apart - - and the Saffers best hope of salvaging something from a series that already looks to be heading the Aussies way" 

BradmanBestEver says: "McDermott should be applauded for his bold, accurate statement that MJ is the best fast bowler in the world today. Today's performance by MJ as compared to Steyn's over the past 2 days, coupled with MJ's destruction of England over 5 tests proves McDermott is correct. Lillee's statement that MJ is a "one-in-a-generation" bowler has also been proven. At 32 how long can MJ's dominance last?if only we had another MJ."

captain tuk tuk who lives in pakistan has become an aussie fan "I live in Pakistan but I an an Ausis fan now because I am a true cricket fan. Ausis did really well Micheal Johnson just as expected by us Ausis fans did a great job but we must give credit to DeVillars who is playing really well against the most fearsome attack in these conditions I doubt the trio of Styen, Philander and Morkel is as good as Johnson, Haris and Siddle in these conditions well played AB."

Predictably there are heaps of praise showering on Mitchell Johnson, and he deserves it as well, as Cricket Australia continue to surge towards becoming the number 1 test side in ICC rankings, once again.

South Africa V Australia who will win test series?

A mouth watering fast bowling tussle seems to be on cards as South Africa will take on Australia at Centurion today in first test match.

While many a cricket fans are lining up to see which is the better bowling attack and will south africa be able to finally remove their chokers tag, there could be disappointment. The news coming from South Africa is depressing as the cunning groundsmen of South Africa has removed the grass from the pitch on request of south african team management to save their batsmen from the bouncers and bone breaking deliveries of Mitchell Johnson.

The squads are as follows:

South Africa Team : GC Smith, HM Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, D Elgar, RK Kleinveldt, R McLaren, M Morkel,WD Parnell, AN Petersen, RJ Peterson, VD Philander, DW Steyn, TL Tsolekile

Australia Team : MJ Clarke, BJ Haddin, JM Bird, AJ Doolan, RJ Harris, MC Henriques, MG Johnson, NM Lyon, SE Marsh,JL Pattinson, CJL Rogers, PM Siddle, SPD Smith, DA Warner, SR Watson

Dale Steyn would like improve on his recent bad showing in test matches, even as Mitchell Johnson again returns to South Africa in form of his life

Against India, all the groundsmen were specifically told to let the grass grow as there was no real fast bowler, but against Australia south african batsmen don't want to become sitting ducks. It is well known fact that most south aftrican batsmen lack technique to handle fast bowling at test level.

While pace battle is on the cards, here are some interesting views coming from cricket fans of both australia and south africa:

truththecovers says:"Everyone is licking their lips re the match-up of the 2 bowling attacks, which is wrong in my opinion. It should realy be looked at as the SA batting line-up vs the Aus bowling attack and vice versa. Looked at it this way, it becomes a fairly simple equation from there. No one in their right minds would give the Aus batting line-up lower odds to outlast the SA bowling attack than the other way around. The absence of Kallis is a big factor, but the SA top 5 will prove yet again a very hard nut to crack. Harder than their counter parts."

Madan Shivkumar is not ready to give Australia any points for their Ashes victory "I guess the Aussies are reading too much into a victory over a battered and bruised England. The saffers will be much harder to beat with the kind of line up they have,never mind kallis s absence - he was not the player he was anyway; steyn philander and morkel are more than enough to bowl out the Aussies considering that they are going to have 2 new faces in the XI. Most of the Aussies are confidence players and if the saffers can break the rhythm of Johnson then its gonna be pretty hard for the Aussies." 

 Greatestgame, the supporter of South Africa cricket is irked when someone mentioned about the inability of south africans to handle spin bowling, he says: "Stop making excuses for, or raising the topic of, SC teams here. We hear that "SA cannot play spin." Now you say "SA cannot play pace." How did SA get to be #1 they can't play pace or spin?SA national cricket is dominated by genuine pace bowling, on quick, hard tracks - the bowling they grow up, & thrive on, & play every match.

In 2012, before SA's series in Eng, debate raged about "the best" attack, much like today. The English attack, pronounced as "the best in the world" by Eng media & management, took 2 for 637 dec in test 1. Amla 311* Kallis 182* Smith 131 etc.

SA destroyed Johnson & Starc that year, at Aus' quickest venue, Perth. Amla scored 196 at SR 88.68. ABdV scored 169 at SR 91.84. Smith scored 84 at SR 84.These guys can decimate genuine pace, and this series has NOTHING AT ALL to do with SC teams."

Comments apart, what can really trouble South Africa is the egoistic nature. They think they are too talented, but they are far from it. We saw in a series against India how at times they did not wanted to be out on the park and were trying fast bowlers in fading light to run away from competition. This lack of fight will hurt them badly against Australia who are known to take advantage of such moments by playing aggressive cricket. South Africa don't have ability to handle pressure situations, in absence of Jaques Kallis in particular.

Fact tha Ab Devilliers never contributes under pressure and that Vernon Philander is more of a threat only in tailor made conditions, it won't be a surprise if Australia defeats South Africa. Also to be noted is that South Africa has recently won more matches against minnows than a top test team. The victory against India was gifted by umpires.