AUS vs RSA 1st Test Match Prediction

AUS vs RSA Team Previews

Australia

Australia crushed the West Indies and was never really tested. That is not something that was unexpected and so in a lot of ways, this South Africa series is the 'real' start to the Australian summer. The focus is going to be on the strong batting lineup led by Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith (Ranked 1 and 2 in the World respectively). 

Australia's batting riches are embarrassingly strong and all the batters love playing at home. David Warner and Cameron Green are the only two players that are a bit out of form in this lineup which also contains Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Alex Carey. 

This Australia batting lineup will be tested against a strong South African pace attack but we expect them to come out with flying colors. Playing back-to-back Test matches takes its toll on all players but especially fast bowlers. 

Josh Hazelwood is unavailable for selection for the first Test but Pat Cummins is back. That means Michael Neser may miss out even after an excellent performance against the West Indies. Starc, Cummins, Boland, and Lyon will lead the attack with Green filling in as the all-rounder. 

This is a phenomenal Test lineup that is extremely motivated and looking for some revenge against the South Africans. 

South Africa

South Africa has an unbelievably good record in Australia. It has won its previous three series, in none of which it started as the favorite, and seems to rise to the occasion when it comes up against the Aussies. Dean Elgar, the South African skipper, will certainly be hoping for more of the same in this series. 

We are not sure he has a great chance of building on the history of his predecessors. 

South Africa's batting lineup is quite weak and seems to be underwhelming in comparison to the Australian batters. Dean Elgar himself will be the leading batter and can expect the Aussies to come at home hard. Temba Bavuma, Sarel Erwaee, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaassen, and Kyle Verreyne are the other batters that will probably take the field for South Africa in the first match. 

We can see van der Dussen and Klaassen put up a fight but the others could struggle. 

South Africa also has to take an important decision regarding its team balance. It does not have a real all-rounder and so will need to decide whether it wants an extra batter at 7 or 5 bowlers to try and pick up 20 wickets. 

We think Marco Jansen will bat at 7 ( at least one position too high for him) and be followed by Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi. The bowling quality in the South African lineup is brilliant. There is real pace and wicket-taking potential. 

The only way South AFrica has a chance in this match (or the series) is for its bowlers to be on the top of their game.