Event: | South Africa in Australia 2008/09 |
DateLine: 2nd January 2009
South Africa will be officially declared the number one team if they gift Australia their first whitewash in their 132 years of cricketing history as their new year gift. After their remarkable chase in Perth and miraculous escape from the jaws of defeat to script one of the memorable wins in Test cricketing history they, Smith will want to end his Test campaign in the Antipodean soil by winning the last Test match. The South African team has looked more at ease and is having the self-belief to scrap through any tight situation. South Africa have overcome a raft of historical mistakes during this series and the SCG provides them with a fond memory when in 1993-94 they stunned Australia by beating them by five runs when the hosts failed to chase 117.
While the tourists symbolizes youthfulness, determination and resilience, Ricky Ponting's outfit is hurt, out of form, and disjointed. They have not being helped by some erratic shot selections from their batsmen, questionable captaincy tactics and lacked reliable bowlers to carry out the demolition work. The Australian team as a whole including the selectors have come under heavy fire for the swift decline and this is the last home opportunity for a year to show signs of a revival. Given the fragile state of the squad following the heavy defeats, a strong comeback would be a shock, especially as the bowling attack is so inexperienced it will be led by Mitchell Johnson, who has played only 17 Tests.
Two changes have been forced on the side with Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds out injured.
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