Mark Butcher feels Australia's bowling attack will shade South Africa's in the sides' four-Test series, live on Sky Sports
Two of the top pace attacks in world cricket will go head to head from Thursday as South Africa and Australia kick off their four-Test series in Durban, live on Sky Sports Cricket.
The Proteas have Kagiso Rabada, the outgoing Morne Morkel, Vernon Philander and new sensation Lungi Ngidi in their squad for the opener, while Dale Steyn could return from injury for the third Test.
Australia, meanwhile, will unleash their Ashes-winning seamers Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood, with Nathan Lyon, the top Test wicket-taker in 2017, provides a quality spin option.
S Africa vs Australia
March 1, 2018, 7:55am
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The series won’t be short of quality batsmen either, with Steve Smith and David Warner playing for Australia and Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers in the South Africa ranks.
So who will come out on top? We asked Mark Butcher and Dominic Cork for their thoughts on our special preview show, which you can watch from 8pm on Tuesday on Sky Sports Cricket.
Here’s a taster…
MARK BUTCHER
“Considering world cricket seems to be dominated by home teams, you would imagine South Africa would be favourites.
“However, when it comes to Test series between Australia and South Africa it goes the opposite way. South Africa haven’t beaten Australia at home since readmission, while Australia have been beaten on home soil by South Africa the last three times.
“This one is difficult to call but I still think that given South Africa’s slight problems with injuries – they have had difficulties getting a consistent XI on the park – that Australia perhaps come in with a bit more confidence, are a bit more settled and have a bowling line-up that if it fires in exactly the same way as it did in the Ashes will cause any team problems. I would marginally go for them.
“South Africa have some very fine seam bowlers but Philander is carrying a back injury into this series and Steyn is getting towards the back end of his career, so there is a lot of reliance on Rabada, Morkel and the youngsters that come in behind because as good a spinner as Keshav Maharaj is, he is unlikely to win you games in the way Lyon might.”
DOMINIC CORK
“I think it depends on which team keeps their seniors fit. If Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood stay fit for the four Tests, I think Australia are going to be hard [to stop], no matter how flat South Africa make the wickets. South Africa are not streets away by any means – I love Lungi Ngidi – but I’d rather have Australia’s pace attack. I think they will be too strong.
Dominic Cork explains why he is a big fan of South Africa seamer Lungi Ngidi, who dismissed Virat Kohli in his opening two Test matches
“There are all quick but you also have a nice mix, especially with the left-arm of Starc. They know the conditions and they have the pace to upset South Africa. Throw in Lyon and Mitchell Marsh and the balance is brilliant.
“Lyon got wickets against England but even when he doesn’t get wickets he allows Steve Smith to rotate his bowlers. Maharaj doesn’t hold up an end like that for South Africa.
“Australia are a very difficult side to beat if everybody is on form so it will be interesting to see how South Africa look to play Lyon. That will be the key part of trying to break down a good attack.
“England were quite conservative against him but we know how good Amla is against spin, while De Villiers won’t allow Lyon to bowl at him. You’d expect him to be aggressive.”
To hear Mark and Dominic discuss what type of pitches we will see in the series; if Steyn should return when fully fit; whether Cameron Bancroft is lucky to keep his spot as Warner’s opening partner; and the captaincy battle between Smith and Faf du Plessis, watch our preview of the series from 8pm on Tuesday on Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404).
Then catch the first Test, from Kingsmead in Durban, live from 7.55am on Thursday on Sky Sports Cricket (channel 404).
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