Wednesday, 16 November 2011

Australia in mental and physical Test after Newlands

Australia had a Test to forget after being skittled by 8 wickets and bowled out for 47 in Newlands. They now face a strong side by South Africa and the mental test of getting into the right mentality as there are still repercussions of the Test still left with the Australia players.
There is great atmosphere with the Test series between these 2 giants but with only 2 Tests, the anticipation for the winner couldn't last a bit longer. Whenever a big match is anticipated after a classic game before, it's normally a calming down Test but with only 2 Tests, they need to be adjusted and on the feet from ball 1 of the Test.

Debutants are handy with Vernon Philander flying through the Australian batsmen with his maiden 5 wicket haul on his debut. There are much talked about returns like the athletic AB de Villiers return from a fractured digit.

The hype from the fans will have an effect in the game and possibly doubters on Tests as the recent postponement of the Test Championships by another 5 years has disappointed most fans and maybe possible and opportunistic sponsors should see this Test to convince the ICC to change their minds.

Shane Watson may need to sharpen up on his catching after dropping a few during catching practice with the Australian team and dropping a key catch in the previous innings in which South Africa romped to victory. With some big attendances and new senior players coming back into the squad for the full strength team for both sides, we might get more excitement! It's not just gonna be OK, it is either gonna be rubbish or some brilliant action in the first day...


South Africa Squad (probable):
We might see Paul Harris back in the side as Imran Tahir didn't have healthy figures from his leg spin from the First Test. But an unchanged side is probable.

1 Graeme Smith (captain), 2 Jacques Rudolph, 3 Hashim Amla, 4 Jacques Kallis, 5 AB de Villiers, 6 Ashwell Prince, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Vernon Philander, 9 Dale Steyn, 10 Morne Morkel, 11 Imran Tahir



Australia Squad (probable):
Difficult to say who is going where and this and that but Peter Siddle looks likely to make way for a bowler who has pace and has an aggressive manner in bowling like Trent Copeland or the fiery teenager, Pat Cummins with the nature of pitches in South Africa. We are absolutely sure though that Shaun Marsh will be replaced by Usman Khawaja.


1 Shane Watson, 2 Phillip Hughes, 3 Usman Khawaja, 4 Ricky Ponting, 5 Michael Clarke (capt), 6 Michael Hussey, 7 Brad Haddin (wk), 8 Mitchell Johnson, 9 Ryan Harris, 10 Trent Copeland, 11 Nathan Lyon


Prediction
Australia have chosen a fiery attack with their squad but South Africa have chosen a conservative approach.
Looks to be a tight match and would think it would be a draw with both sides should be able to get above the 300 runs mark in one of their innings.

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