Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
Things have just got SPICY! I don’t know about you, but I’m loving this.
The competition, the fire, the tension. The cricket has been great, and it’s about to get even better.
Like the second Test, there has so much off-field incident in the lead up to the Cape Town Test, which promises to be an absolute beauty. Kagiso Rabada was banned, then not, then frowned upon by Australian captain Steve Smith, which means we are all so very excited for the battle that will take place on the picturesque Newlands Cricket Ground in Cape Town. No other form of cricket can bring this kind of drama to us, and hopefully the third Test incident-free and we talk about the cricket only in the aftermath.
Not in recent history can I remember so much talk between Tests, which has replicated the emotion and intensity of an actual match among fans. Opinion has been split on whether Rabada should play, which adds to the drama. In my opinion, Kagiso Rabada playing in this Test is good for Test Cricket, because people are talking about and looking forward to watching Test cricket, and Rabada playing adds spice to a simmering contest.
Australia, simply brilliant in Durban, were wiped out in Port Elizabeth by Kagiso Rabada and AB de Villiers in particular. However, if they focus on just those two for South Africa, it is very easy to see them getting blind-sighted by the likes of Vernon Philander, who has an extraordinary record in Cape Town, as well as the likes of Faf du Plessis, Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla, who have yet to put a huge stamp on the series, but have the potential to do so.
The same applies for South Africa. Resting on their laurels, and simply assuming Rabada and de Villiers will repeat their heroics is a very big mistake against a dangerous Australia line up. Australia possess arguably the best attack in the world, and if AB de Villiers doesn’t fire, who else will be stepping up for the Proteas? It makes for a super contest. Test cricket is alive and kicking right now.
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| AB de Villiers has been incredible in Tests in 2018 |
Key to a South Africa win
The two South Africa teams that have turned up in this series have been unrecognizable from each other.
In Durban, they were very passive in their approach, allowing the Australians to dictate terms, which is the perfect recipe for defeat. In Port Elizabeth, going with the spice theme once again, South Africa changed their recipe, implemented a much more aggressive game plan, and reaped the rewards.
South Africa’s batting will once again be under the spotlight. Their improved performance in Port Elizabeth was heartening to see from a South African perspective, after a superb bowling performance led by Kagiso Rabada. However, even if Australia deal with KG better this time around, they’ll have the likes of Vernon Philander to contend with, who has taken 47 wickets at 16.34 in Tests at Cape Town, including 5/15 on Test debut when Australia were all out for 47. The batting of Dean Elgar and Hashim Amla was a positive for South Africa in the last Test, and if there is less reliance on AB de Villiers, South Africa will give their bowlers a good total to play with.
Key to an Australia win
The beast that is Australia is well and truly awake.
Expect Australia to come out all guns blazing, as backing down from a battle is not in their blood. Steve Smith was highly critical of Rabada being allowed to play, but how he and his teammates deal with Rabada and South Africa’s bowlers is crucial to the result.
Also, can Australia continue their success against South Africa’s top order? Apart from AB de Villiers, who sits top of the run scoring charts, and Aiden Markram, thanks to his hundred in Durban, you’d have to scroll all the way to number seven to find a South African on the leading run scoring charts. That is Quinton de Kock, who has 112 runs, made up mostly of his 80-odd in the second innings in Durban.
Australia sense an opportunity to get into the South Africa line-up, where Amla is averaging 22 for the series, Elgar 19 and Du Plessis 10.
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| Mitchell Starc – so much quality. He will be key for Australia in this Test. |
Possible teams
A couple of changes to the South Africa team could be the case for this Test. Temba Bavuma is now said to be fit, and should replace Theunis De Bruyn. Also, Lungi Ngidi is in doubt with a toe issue, meaning Morne Morkel could be in the frame. South Africa’s focus will be to play that aggressive cricket that was so successful for them. However, Kagiso Rabada in particular has to be careful, as any charge will mean he misses the fourth Test.
South Africa possible XI: 1. Dean Elgar, 2. Aiden Markram, 3. Hashim Amla, 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Faf Du Plessis (c), 6. Temba Bavuma, 7. Quinton de Kock (wk), 8. Vernon Philander, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Morne Morkel/Lingi Ngidi
The Australians will be pumped. It has been a while since they have been under pressure like this in Test cricket, especially after such a smooth Ashes campaign. On pitches that aren’t flat, Australia’s batsmen have struggled over the years, and this will be a sure test of their character. Can Mitchell Starc find the rhythm he had in Durban? Can Josh Hazlewood make an impact at the top? How will the batsmen deal with Rabada and co? Makes for a great contest – expect Australia to stick with the same XI.
Australia possible XI: 1. Cameron Bancroft, 2. David Warner, 3. Usman Khawaja, 4. Steve Smith (c), 5. Shaun Marsh, 6. Mitchell Marsh, 7. Tim Paine (wk), 8. Patrick Cummins, 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood
Stats & Facts:
- Australia were bowled out for 47 in 2011, and then won their next Test in Cape Town, making scores of 494 and 303 in 2014.
- The last time Australian star captain Steve Smith went three Tests without a hundred was in 2016 against South Africa.
- No Australia player has made a century in this series so far. The time is now for the Aussies.
Prediction:
The pitch in Cape Town looks to have a good covering of grass on it, and if it plays in any way similar to the Test against India in January, the batsmen will have a tough time of things.
Both sides have the bowlers to win the game for their respective teams, but which batting side will stand up more? These questions add to the intrigue ahead of the Test, and shows that this game will be a beauty. A prediction is very difficult to make, especially as I don’t expect the result to be a draw on this Cape Town track. I think South Africa are better equipped, thanks to the AB factor, to deal with the moving ball. However, if Smith can outplay AB on a seaming pitch, Australia will be in the box seat.
For this game, I’ll pick South Africa to win in another fiery contest, thanks to the confidence that KG and AB bring to the team, which can enable the others to perform well.
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