AUS vs RSA 2nd Test Match Prediction

AUS vs RSA Team Previews

Australia

All of the Australian bowlers had a brilliant outing in the first Test and since the match was over in two days, we don't think any of them would want to rest! The bowling lineup is not yet set in stone, though. Josh Hazelwood is fit and the Australian selectors will have a tough time explaining to him why he is not in the Boxing Day lineup if he is indeed available!

The likely player to miss out will be Scott Boland and he can count himself extremely unlucky. 

This embarrassment of riches in the bowling lineup is why Australia has been so dominant in this WTC cycle. Especially at home. Mitchell Starc seems to be getting his inswing going again, Pat Cummins is brilliant as ever, and whoever their third seamer is (Hazelwood or Boland), the batters do not get any respite. 

Following up is Nathan Lyon who is relentless and always gets something from the surface.

Complimenting this bowling attack is a world-class batting lineup. We did see both Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith struggle in the first Test but that may have been an aberration. The focus is going to be on David Warner's form which seems to be in a prolonged slump. 

Usman Khawaja, Travis Head, and Marnus Green round out a very strong batting lineup. If the MCG is a bit flatter than the pitch at the Gabba (and it most certainly will be), then this batting lineup should be able to dominate the South African attack. 

South Africa

South Africa came to Australia knowing that it had the bowling to compete but big question marks over its batting. As the first Test match unfolded, we saw more and more evidence that South Africa is going to have to make a change to its team's balance. 

The batting lineup as it stands is not going to be able to compete against the Australian lineup. Temba Bavuma got starts in both innings but did not carry on and his career suggests that is a well-established pattern. Dean Elgar is always going to struggle against the new ball in Australia and a lot of their other batters are inexperienced. 

Sarel Erwee, Khaya Zondo, and Kyle Verreynne are talented but may not yet be at the peak of their development. Australia can be a hard place to start and we are not very hopeful of their chances. Verreynne, out of these players, is the one most likely to put up a fight. 

That leaves Rassie van der Dussen. He is very talented and extremely comfortable against high pace. He needs to stand up and lead from the front. Marco Jansen at number 7 is at least one position too high and may shift one position down by the addition of an extra batter. 

Heinrich Klaassen is the obvious batter who is waiting in the squad. He may replace Lungi Ngidi as South Africa play with just four regular bowlers. 

The bowling lineup for South Africa is world-class. Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje will enjoy the conditions and have already shown themselves capable of getting past the Australian batters. Marco Jansen has also been quite impressive and may pip Ngidi as the third bowler. Keshav Maharaj's role may be a lot bigger at the MCG than it was at the Gabba. 

A dangerous team, South Africa's difficulty in balancing its lineup and its lack of batting quality could cost it very heavily.