Australia v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 – 1st Test – Australian batsmen to watch out for [Part 1]
One of the main highlights of Australia’s upcoming summer, the Australia v South Africa Test series approaches amid much hype, and has widely been touted as the series which could propel Australia to the top of the ICC’s Test team rankings, and subsequently
cost the Proteas their top spot.
Widely acknowledged as a formidable Test side, the Australian team retained the top spot on the ICC’s Test team rankings for a little more than 6 years before the Ashes debacle in 2009 robbed them of their crown. Having slipped to number 3, the upcoming
series presents them with an ideal chance to reclaim the throne, while the Proteas will be looking to retain it, having recently grabbed the top spot from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 this year.
One of the major points of discussion in regards to the upcoming series are the pace attacks on both sides. Speculation has been rife surrounding the final make-up of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PM-Siddle-c2197, James
Pattinson, and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mitchell-Aaron-Starc-c76392 in the mix, the possibility of a 4-pronged pace attack has not been ruled out.
Meanwhile, the Proteas are currently armed with what many, including http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c73528, all of whom are included in the
ICC’s top ten Test bowlers, at number 1, 2, and 9 respectively, and are bound to enjoy the pace, bounce, and lateral movement the Australian pitches have to offer.
As a result, the deciding factor of the series will be how well the batsmen on either side handle the speed and movement – the team with the batsmen that tackle the pacers most effectively is bound to be the one that comes out on top.
Faced with the prospect of battling it out against the Proteas pace attack on the seam-friendly pitches at the Gabba and WACA, the Australian team might even find themselves bereft of the home advantage, given the Proteas’ reputation for winning away from
home. In short, the Aussie batsmen have their work cut out for them.
However, with the top Test team ranking at stake, and a handful of dominant batsmen in their arsenal, the pressure is bound to bring out the best in Australia as they step up to the crease for the first Test of the 3-match series, scheduled to be played
at the Gabba from November 9 to 13.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978
Having taken over the team’s Test captaincy in January 2011 after http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RT-Ponting-c2377, Michael Clarke was handed the rather daunting task of pulling the Australian team out of a slump – a job which he has managed fairly well. Under his leadership the team has
played a total of 15 Tests, out of which they have won 9, lost 3, and drawn 3, with the most recent victory at home being a comprehensive 4-0 whitewash of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750.
However, Clarke’s leadership skills are not the only thing that will be required of him – the team will be banking on him to lead from the front and deliver with the bat as they look to tackle the Proteas’ formidable pace attack.
Overtime, Clarke has proven his worth as a consistent performer for the team. A veteran of 83 Tests, the right-hander has scored a total of 6097 runs in the format (with 19 centuries), at an average of 48.77, and with a strike rate of 54.52. Recent performances
include consistent outings on the tricky UAE pitches against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Clarke-c51120’s shoulders, and given his past record,
the 31-year-old is bound to do it full justice.
Continued in Part 2 ...
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