The two top class rivals are once again up against each other as they face each other after a gap of one year.They had last met in South Africa when the series was a draw with one win in each of their hands.There is no doubt that these two teams play the world class cricket and has the best seam bowlers all round the world.And all these facts give so much of hype to this series that everyone is very eagerly waiting for this series to begin.Currently Australia holds the third rank with116 points and South Africa holds the first rank with 120 points in test cricket.So,the stats say that this series has the power to bring a lot of change in the rankings.Australia would like to give in everything thay have to achieve the first ranking while Smith would love to keep his team consistent at the first rank.

Australia looked to be a very settled side a month back .But now after losing their young bowler Cummins and the famous all rounder Shane Watson to injury,the vistors no doubt looks to be more settled side.Although the australian coach believes that they could win even without Watson as they had won against India but evryone knows the difference between Indian and South African team.Rob Quiney has been called to take the place of Shane Watson after having a good season of domestic cricket.And Mitchell Starc or Hilfenhaus will take the place of patt cummins.They do not have well experienced side but having Warner at the top with Ponting,Clarke and Mike Hussey at the bottom to handle the innnings give them a good chance to perform decently with the bat.Responsibility to provide early wickets will lie in the hands of Peter Siddle and Starc.

South Africa seems to be a better team on paper with huge experience of Jack Kallis in the all round section.De Villiers need to show that he could handle the keeping with his batting performances as he has done in the the other two formats.South African pace attack is the best in the worl at present but testing the likes of Ponting,Clarke and Hussey wont be that easy.They need to maintain their line and length in order to keep Warner in control and take him early.The batting line up with the names of Amla,Kallis,Abd,Duminy and Smith itself says the impact they can make on a match.It will be interesting to see how they approach for this match.

Vernon Philander entered the test cricket world as a great boost for the South African team.He was taking  wickets even more than Steyn in most of the matches but his wicket taking capability seems to have reduced in the last few matches.So,it will be interesting to watch how he goes for this series with pitches favouring the seam bowlers.If he goes on then it will be a problem to stop him.

The captain himself,Michael Clarke,holds the key to his team success.The team has improved a lot under his captaincy.He bats so well under pressure that its a delight to watch him then.His bowling moves and his batting strategy will decide a lot about this match's result.

South Africa will not like to make a change to their team as it has a clear edge over the australians.

 South Africa (possible): 1. Graeme Smith (capt) 2. Alviro Petersen  3. Hashim Amla  4. Jacques Kallis  5. AB de Villiers (wk)  6. Jacques Rudolph  7. JP Duminy  8. Vernon Philander  9. Morne Morkel  10. Dale Steyn  11. Imran Tahir. 

Michael Clarke hinted that he may want to go with a four man pace attack.Anyways he will have to choose two between Starc,Hilfenhaus and Lyon.

Australia (possible): 1. Ed Cowan  2. David Warner  3. Rob Quiney  4. Ricky Ponting  5. Michael Clarke (capt)  6. Michael Hussey  7. Matthew Wade (wk)  8. Peter Siddle  9. James Pattinson  10&11. Ben Hilfenhaus/Mitchell Starc/ Nathan Lyon. 

  The pitch is expected to be more drier than the one on which New Zealand and Australia played last year.This indicates that the spinners will have a job to do on this pitch.The match is expected to finish on the fifth day as there are forecasts for some rain in the next five days.

This promises to be a cracking performnace where the world top batsmen faces the world top seamers.And there will be mind fights between the strategies of the world top two captains.So,i suggest you not to miss this.Cheers!!!

~by deepak kumar