Australia v http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757 – 1st Test – Australian bowlers to watch out for [Part 1]
Alongside the fact that it will determine the ICC’s top Test team, the upcoming extended-overs series between Australia and South Africa, due to kick off with the first Test at the Gabba from November 9 to 13, has also been billed as the clash of two potent
pace attacks, with hype building around the quicks on both sides.
With both teams counted among the best Test sides in the world, South Africa are currently the top Test team as per ICC rankings, after snatching the spot from http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 earlier this year – however, the series provides the host team (currently at number 3
in the rankings) a chance to claim the number one position for themselves.
While Australia are obviously experienced, having previously held the top spot for up to six years, the make-up of the Proteas attack is causing a fair amount of stir, particularly the pace trio of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Morkel-c73528, all of whom
are on the ICC’s list of top ten Test bowlers, and have been labelled by http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Allan-Anthony-Donald-c43680 as the best attack in South African history.
While the “home advantage” factor for Australia is not convincing in the current scenario, given the Proteas’ excellent record away from home, the host team has a pace attack which is equal to that of their rivals’, and with both sides appearing more or
less equally balanced in that regard, the series is bound to prove an interesting contest.
While the Aussies have decided against including fiery young quick http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SR-Watson-c2558 (who will be sitting the first match out owing to a calf injury), the team has the experienced duo
of Peter Siddle and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Nathan-Michael-Lyon-c78822.
In his most recent statements regarding the make-up of the Aussie attack, skipper http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MJ-Clarke-c1978 has claimed that he is still undecided, and faces two options – depending on the nature of the pitch, the team could either go with a four-pronged pace attack
featuring Siddle, Hilfenhaus, Pattinson and Starc, or choose between Hilfenhaus and Starc, and bring in Lyon as the fourth bowler.
The Australian pitches, famed for the generous amounts of pace and bounce on offer, have also been a point of interest in the build-up to the series. South African bowling coach Allan Donald has expressed his keenness to unleash the Proteas quicks on the
pitches at the Gabba and WACA. However, the Aussie bowlers will also be eager to make the most of the home conditions, and undoubtedly possess the potential to challenge the visiting batsmen.
Peter Siddle
Ranked at number 7 on the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/PM-Siddle-c2197 is also one of the most experienced pacemen in the line-up. The 27-year-old is a veteran of
32 Tests, and has a total of 117 wickets, at an average of 29.27, and an economy rate of 3.06, to his credit.
Siddle displayed exceptional form during Australia’s home series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746,
during early December 2011.
In addition, Siddle has also recently managed to fit in plenty of match practice via the ongoing Sheffield Shield 2012/13, during which he has claimed 11 scalps during the four first-class matches he has played for the Victoria Bushrangers. Australia will
be counting on him to continue in similar form, and play a vital role in keeping the Proteas batsmen in line.
Continued in Part 2 ...
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