Following the harrowing defeat in the first Test on a poorly prepared pitch in Brisbane, the onus will once more be on the Proteas batters to find a way to score runs on what many hope will be a less spicy MCG track.
Jofra Archer has been recalled to the England squad for the three-match One-Day International series against South Africa, which will be played next month.
The Proteas hope batting conditions in Melbourne will be better than Brisbane, but it’s still going to require more from them in the second Test against Australia.
While not wanting to read too much into what kind of pitch South Africa and Australia will encounter for the historic Boxing Day Test next week, Khaya Zondo said he’d just be happy if the match made it to a third day.
Ahead of the Boxing Day Test against Australia, the Proteas have been given a two-day break as a cloud continues to hang over the team’s batting.
To be fair to him, the Gabba’s curator, David Sandurski, wasn’t happy with the pitch that he and his staff provided.
Kagiso Rabada took eight wickets in the first Test against Australia that finished on Sunday with the home team triumphant, although their pursuit of 34 saw them lose four wickets.
IOL Sport’s Stuart Hess looks at the Plays of Match during the first Test between the Proteas and Australia at the Gabba, which ended after just two days with a six-wicket win for the home side.
The record shows the Proteas lost by six wickets, but all the focus afterwards was on the Gabba surface, with captain Dean Elgar saying he asked the umpires whether the pitch could be deemed dangerous.
It didn’t cause any physical danger for batters, but the Gabba pitch was hopelessly too favourable for the bowlers and rendered a competitive contest between Australia and the Proteas impossible.
IOL Sport’s Stuart Hess looks at the Plays of Day 1 of the first Test between the Proteas and Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Proteas top-scorer Kyle Verreynne explained that despite the heavy grass covering on the pitch, the surface was good for batting and held no demons.
By the end of the eleventh over - on a green Gabba track - four of the Proteas’ top five batters were back in the changeroom with only 27 runs, Australia running riot. ro
Mitchell van Buuren and Dominic Hendricks provided the backbone for another prodigious Lions effort ensuring that the Knights’ awful bowling was punished.
The Proteas on the eve of the opening match of the three Test series, captain Dean Elgar hinted strongly that the tourists would use a 6-5 batter/bowler split.
Proteas captain Dean Elgar expects a feisty Test series when they face Australia in the first of three matches starting on Saturday.
The once pugnacious David Warner, has been at the centre of a swirl of controversy this season, while his poor form with the bat has also led to speculation that his future in the Test format could be on the line.
While David Warner is firmly in the spotlight in Australia, it’s the same for the Proteas vice-captain, although in Temba Bavuma’s case he’s not had to concern himself with his wife or manager sprouting stuff on radio.
Ryan Rickelton scored another century as the Lions beat the North West Dragons in their One Day Cup game at the Wanderers on Wednesday.
IOL Sport’s Stuart Hess looks at a few areas of interest ahead of the first Test between South Africa and Australia, starting in Brisbane on Saturday.
Steve Smith, who took over as captain for the second Test against the West Indies last week, with Pat Cummins absent due to injury, was full of praise for the Proteas bowling attack, particularly the pace and variety thereof.
Ryan Rickelton, along with Western Province’s Tony de Zorzi, are the two inform batters on the domestic circuit but for Rickelton, his omission from the Proteas touring squad for the three Test series Down Under, hurts.
The 26-year-old left-hander Ryan Rickelton has seemed determined to make the national selectors look foolish for omitting him from the Proteas squad that is currently in Australia.
Although he scored just 28, the Proteas’ vice-captain, Temba Bavuma spent valuable time at the crease on Sunday ahead of the first Australia Test.
South Africa has won each of its last three series’ Down Under, and the current team should feel they are capable of matching the achievement of the 2008/09, 2012/13 and 2016/17 sides.
