With the Ashes secured and a whitewash on the cards, cricket Australia will look ahead to a brutal series in South Africa. Arguably South Africa seem to play as if they have to prove they are the best and this current series vs India has proven that they are perhaps slipping away a bit. They are still a great team, granted. But Steyn looks different, Morkel seems different and Smith appears different. It may be the impending loss of Jacques Kallis from their ranks perhaps. But they need to move on. They have Australia playing a good brand of cricket coming to South Africa. This brand of aggressive cricket is played by both teams. Both have aggressive captains, both have angry fast bowlers and both have SOME excellent batsmen on offer.
However a position for both of concern is the middle order. As you should know by now, the one and only Jacques Kallis is hanging up his whites and this opens a spot for a new batsmen to come in.. Yes. However JP Duminy's Batting will be of some concern to Smith who is still himself looking to regain some of his best cricket.
The Aussies however have George Bailey. With one fifty to his name in 5 innings and an average of 34 against what can only be described as a mediocre attack may prove a concern to the Aussies looking ahead. By the looks of things now, Australia will give Bailey a Sydney test match to showcase his talent at the test arena before looking to alternative
One of these alternatives is Marcus North. The Western Australian batsmen who in first class this season is averaging 98.83 with two hundreds to his name.
North's improved technique against the swinging ball may also be a cause for selection as Sa often provide quick and movey pitches. North made his debut 5 years ago in South Africa and went on to score 100 on his debut series. Following that he scored 5 100's and 4 50's before being dropped in the 2010-11 ashes series for Perth. His offies may also provide Clarke with another spinning option.
His batting this season in FC has proved he is still a top quality batsman and experience may be a useful thing for Australia against South Africa.
What's wrong with Dale Steyn. Has he lost the passion.. Nah. Has he lost the talent.. Definitely not. Has he lost his spark.. Yes.
Steyn's bowling has been out of sorts, it looks as though he's trying to hard to get wickets. His lengths are too full giving batsmen opportunities to drive him. This in turn makes him make rash decisions about his short ball. When trying to hurt the batsman, Steyn has managed to give them a pudding of a delivery which is pulled away.
Not for one moment am I questioning one of the best bowlers I've had the pleasure to watch however there is something missing about him. He looks defeated sometimes. After the rain delay and he came out and ravaged the Indians for 6 wickets the Steyn of old was back. But what can't be ignored is the fact that if he doesn't take a wicket early his attitude changes. He goes to full and to rash which was shown against Pakistan and now India however if he's mentally right bat batting line up must be scared!!
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Topic: South Africa vs Australia and Marcus North. (Read 2878 times)