So Australia has a dossier on the South Africa team. So what? One of the
trends of 21st century international cricket is that battles between
nations now contain so few elements of the unknown. It should not be
forgotten that these two sides played each other over a pair of
uproarious Test matches only a year ago in Cape Town and Johannesburg,
the series shared 1-1. Between then and now Australian and South African
players have shared dressing rooms at the IPL and the Champions League,
opposed each other again at the World Twenty20 and tried to prepare as
best they can for a Test series with only one warm-up fixture in most
cases.
But the lack of secrets to be divulged ahead of the first Test does not
detract from the prospect of another meeting between two teams to have
produced some of the most memorable Test encounters of recent times.
South Africa's first visit to the Gabba in 49 years offers the prospect
of plenty that is hair-raising, mainly for batsmen up against six of the
world's best fast bowlers, but spectators too. Graeme Smith's side is
settled and well grooved, their XI set in near enough to stone from the
moment their plane touched down in Sydney last week. Smith himself is
fired by the desire to ensure South Africa's hold on the ICC's top spot
is not as fleeting this time around as it had been in 2009.
Australia, meanwhile, seek further proof of their rejuvenation. The Test
team has not played together since April, and they may be forgiven for
blinking just as much as the rest of the world at the fact they have the
chance to unseat South Africa from their perch atop the rankings. The
fact they have a chance of doing so is the best indicator of how far the
team has developed under Michael Clarke's captaincy since the 2011 tour
of Sri Lanka, as over that period the team has won three series, drawn
two and shown the importance of incisive bowling to cover for a top six
that on paper cannot match South Africa's. Line these two sides up and
the visitors look to have a clear advantage. But contests between these
teams have never been decided that way.
Form guide
(Most recent first)Australia WDWWW
South Africa WDWDW
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