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Craig HillAustralia Fights To Retain Top Ranking
January 3rd 2009 10:40
Sydney is the scene of the summer's final Test and could well be where Australia fights one last battle, at least for now, as the No 1 ranked Test nation in the world. One more loss would not only see Australia succumb to its first series whitewash at home in 122 years, but also hand the No 1 ranking to South Africa.
To topple the king in his own court requires nerves of steel, tremendous skill and brilliant strategy.
The Proteas have displayed all three. In Perth and Melbourne, they turned seemingly hopeless situations into positions of dominance.
They must now be convinced they can win from any position. Should Australia be in front again, it will be constantly looking over its shoulder. Anyone doing that inevitably takes their eye off the ball.
The series is dead but, other than the No.1 ranking, there is still much to be gained and lost, particularly for Andrew McDonald and Doug Bollinger.
The pair will make their Test debut in Sydney.
Both have earned the right and are more than just speculative selections for the future.
At last for Bollinger, he is in the right place at the right time.
He topped last summer's Sheffield Shield wicket tally with 44 at 15.44 but missed New South Wales' success in the final due to injury.
He then toured the West Indies and India but did not win the nod from selectors.
McDonald, largely unheralded outside of his native Victoria, has been thrust into the national spotlight following injuries to Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson.
A technically correct batsman and an underrated bowler who can move the ball in the air and off the seam, McDonald will not be out of his depth against the Proteas.
Strong performances in Sydney by he and Bollinger will give the pair reason to have their passports handy in 2009.
With Symonds injured, out-of-form opener Matthew Hayden will be one Australian player looking for a big score.
Since starting 2008 with back-to-back tons, Hayden has made only 313 runs at an average of 23.
The selectors have backed him to the hilt, believing a man of his standing deserves the extra opportunities afforded.
Michael Hussey's run of outs has largely slipped under the radar. He has made only 80 runs in his past six knocks but has received more than his share of ill fortune.
His position in the side is not at all imperilled - even with two more failures - but Australia needs him to again be the reliable accumulator in the middle order.
The Proteas have seen no need to change a winning formula, keeping the same XI which has played with much distinction this series.
For years they have been haunted and taunted by the Australians, making the view at the summit all that much sweeter for them.
But they should take heed of history. Australia, under Mark Taylor, had a habit of losing dead Tests at the start of their reign.
And it takes only a few Proteas enjoying the view from the top a little bit too much for the same to happen to South Africa
To topple the king in his own court requires nerves of steel, tremendous skill and brilliant strategy.
The Proteas have displayed all three. In Perth and Melbourne, they turned seemingly hopeless situations into positions of dominance.
They must now be convinced they can win from any position. Should Australia be in front again, it will be constantly looking over its shoulder. Anyone doing that inevitably takes their eye off the ball.
The series is dead but, other than the No.1 ranking, there is still much to be gained and lost, particularly for Andrew McDonald and Doug Bollinger.
The pair will make their Test debut in Sydney.
Both have earned the right and are more than just speculative selections for the future.
At last for Bollinger, he is in the right place at the right time.
He topped last summer's Sheffield Shield wicket tally with 44 at 15.44 but missed New South Wales' success in the final due to injury.
He then toured the West Indies and India but did not win the nod from selectors.
McDonald, largely unheralded outside of his native Victoria, has been thrust into the national spotlight following injuries to Andrew Symonds and Shane Watson.
A technically correct batsman and an underrated bowler who can move the ball in the air and off the seam, McDonald will not be out of his depth against the Proteas.
Strong performances in Sydney by he and Bollinger will give the pair reason to have their passports handy in 2009.
With Symonds injured, out-of-form opener Matthew Hayden will be one Australian player looking for a big score.
Since starting 2008 with back-to-back tons, Hayden has made only 313 runs at an average of 23.
The selectors have backed him to the hilt, believing a man of his standing deserves the extra opportunities afforded.
Michael Hussey's run of outs has largely slipped under the radar. He has made only 80 runs in his past six knocks but has received more than his share of ill fortune.
His position in the side is not at all imperilled - even with two more failures - but Australia needs him to again be the reliable accumulator in the middle order.
The Proteas have seen no need to change a winning formula, keeping the same XI which has played with much distinction this series.
For years they have been haunted and taunted by the Australians, making the view at the summit all that much sweeter for them.
But they should take heed of history. Australia, under Mark Taylor, had a habit of losing dead Tests at the start of their reign.
And it takes only a few Proteas enjoying the view from the top a little bit too much for the same to happen to South Africa
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