In the final test match of our home series South Africa may have handed the advantage back to the Australians. When Australia was dominating world cricket we often dropped the so called 'dead rubber'. However, the Sydney test was not exactly a dead rubber as the South Africans were playing for the right to be the number one test match nation. They lost Graeme Smith and the Test.
Now at home, the Proteas have another chance to claim the number one ranking but once again they have stumbled by conceeding a massive 466 on a bowler friendly pitch in Joh-Burg that eventually cost them the test. The fact is, they still appear to be chokers. In the late seventies the West Indies assumed the mantle of the best playing nation in world cricket and held on to that until 1995 and the fact remains, we still hold this mantle according to the ICC table. The South Africans appear to be losing their grip on something that they have never held in the first place.
Even though our mate Dutchy has been talking up the Saffies all summer long (to be fair he's probably collected handsomely in the first couple of tests as the bookies failed to notice the change in the wind) perhaps it's time we had a good look at this side and had a think about how good they actually are. After all, with Australia playing practically a second eleven at the moment have been very competitive in all four completed tests and have won the last two tests against them as well as being on top in the current match. If the Saffies were that good they would be creaming us, but they are not.
Here's my thoughts on the current eleven.
SMITH: An outstanding batsman who is proving very hard to remove and the man who is profiting the most by the absence of McGrath, Warne and Clark. Still the prize wicket in this side IMO. His captaincy though is rigid and inflexible. When things start go wrong he stubbornly 'sticks to plan' which is very much the South African way. Of course pretty easy from here behind my keyboard.
MCKENZIE: Flat track bully who hasn't hurt the Aussies at all. Australia's attack has effectively tied him down and some silly shots have ensued.
AMLA: An exciting strokeplayer who doesn't go on with it. The Aussies have Punter, The Windies had Richards. What's wrong with this picture?
KALLIS: Still the best cricketer in the team. However, injuries are starting to catch up with Kallis who is now in the closing stages of a great career. It was most revealing how much South Africa struggled when Smith couldn't throw the ball to Kallis. South Africa will have a harder time replacing Kallis than we will Warne.
DE VILLIERS: I really rate this guy and it's always a relief whenever we've got him out. Also a gun fielder.
DUMMINY: Sorted out to some degree by the short ball so he has to find a way to overcome this to keep Ashwell Prince out of the team. Doubles up as a handy bowler but at Test level Aussie fans should be pretty happy when Smith throws him the ball.
BOUCHER: Another hard nosed Cricketer who does not give his wicket away. Starting to find things a bit tougher now that the quality of the South African tail has fallen away a bit. The best gloveman in world cricket.
MORKEL: It looks as though South Africa might have to be patient with the giant fast bowler. Can bowl some totally unplayable deliveries but also some absolute carp as well. I reckon his batting is vastly overrated despite one decent knock in the series in Oz.
HARRIS: Doesn't turn the ball often enough to be a consistent threat. Tends to become very negative and relies on the deep mid on dart, dart, dart theory and wait for batsmen to throw their wicket away. Sadly, players like Roy, Pup and Punter last night have obliged the mouthy twat. Nothing to be jealous of here, we've got about six Harris' in the domestic scene.
STEYN: The best fast bowler in world cricket is entering his prime but the rest of the attack is either green (Morkel) or past their best (Ntini, Kallis). Smith is terrified of bowling Steyn in long spells and Steyn is starting to show signs of feeling the pressure of being asked to carry the whole attack a la Mitchell Johnson. Due to injuries and retirements, fingers have been pointed at our attack but the figures are showing that the South African attack is also struggling once we stop giving Harris the support wickets that Steyn and Ntini need.
NTINI: Ntini has always been serviceable and has pretty much played second fiddle for almost his whole career to first Pollock and now Steyn. Ntini's use of angle provides Smith with a different weapon but I have noticed that his better spells appear to be earlier on during a test series. Has this happened to him over his whole career? If so that would suggest a player that doesn't have many weapons (probably because his first weapon is so effective).
To me, that statement sums up the South Africans. Weapon one has been so successful in blowing opposition sides away that there has been no need to come up with a plan B. Perhaps the South Africans are like Geelong and the Oz series was their 2007 Grand Final.
The Saffies could of course still win this series and claim 'The Mace' but I wouldn't expect this combination to live up to the standards of previous champions or enjoy the view atop the mountain for any longer than a year at most. When Kallis goes these guys are screwed, we have maintained our standing despite losing Warne, McGrath, Hayden, Langer, Gilchrist, Lee and Clark.
regards,
REB
