Delhi: Another Test series between South Africa and Australia is starting from 9 October. This time there is more discussion because the series is in South Africa and this is Australia's first South Africa tour after the ball-tampering controversy of 2018. This was such a big controversy that many careers were at stake. This time too, the wounds of that controversial series are in discussion more than the new series. On the other hand, Australia also has many questions and this is a special part of the difficult phase of 21 Test matches in a year, if they fail, it will affect the entire Australian cricket.
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The entire cricket world has its eyes on the Test series starting in Durban. Believe me, after 641 days the South African team is playing Test at home. On top of that, the current World Test champion team South Africa is facing the team which they had defeated in the final at Lord's last year. On the contrary, Australia is currently on top in the ICC rankings and is ahead of South Africa by 7 points. Even then it will be said that the two top teams will face each other in this series in three test matches in Durban, Geberha (new name of Port Elizabeth) and Cape Town.
Things related to this present even more interesting aspects of this competition. South Africa won the WTC title about 16 months ago and since then they are playing their first Test on their own ground. The fans of the South African team have not got a chance to see their team playing on their pitches after their victory at Lord's. The schedule of the WTC itself is so strange that since winning the World Test Championship, South Africa has played two Test matches each in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India and has not played Test cricket for 11 months.
On the other hand, Australia is starting one of the most difficult Test schedules in its history. They played at home against Bangladesh in August, which is not usually counted as part of their domestic season, marking the beginning of a year-long journey that includes playing at least 21 Tests. Some of these are very difficult tours, such as the series in South Africa, India and England. Along with this, the age of many big players of Australia is increasing and this is no less a difficult challenge.
Therefore, playing in South Africa is not easy for him. It is possible that if all these fears prove to be baseless in this series, then it will be a huge success for Australia, but experts believe that there is very little chance of this happening. The fear of failing miserably is high. The careers of many players are at stake.
The biggest talking point in this series is the infamous “Sandpapergate” episode of 2018. This is Australia's first Test tour of South Africa after that series. After that, “Sandpapergate”, the Australian team was badly disintegrated on and off the ground. Since South Africa's return to international cricket in 1992, Australia have never taken so much time off between two tours of South Africa. This time one reason was that the 2021 tour could not take place due to Covid. That's why after a lot of bitterness and controversy, we are playing Tests there only now.
Three fast bowlers from that tour, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, are still in the team, as well as Lyon and Steve Smith. All of them will be part of the team in Durban. South Africa still has four players from that series in the squad: Temba Bavuma, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram and Rabada. Obviously the time of the 2018 series has passed, but its impact still remains.
By the way, is the month of October right for such a big match? Nowadays, big international matches are somehow being fitted into the calendar. South Africa's 2-1 win in the ODI series marks the beginning of an interesting contest. After the lack of Test matches on their ground, England will play three Tests there after Australia. After this, for the first time since 2003, the 50-over World Cup will be played on this continent in late 2027. All this is happening at a time when South African cricket seems to be on the rise again.
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Australia has called 29-year-old Sam Harper and 34-year-old Nick Maddinson in the team due to injuries to Cameron Green and Josh English. Maddinson has not played a Test in over a decade and this is clearly indicative of the lack of superior bench strength. On the other hand, Marnus Labuschagne has not scored a Test 100 in more than three years. Besides, all fast bowlers are elderly and they cannot always escape the effects of age.