*Official* South Africa in Australia

[w3lshrugby]

Welcome to the first *outside the bubble* series.

South Africa visit Australia and a close series is in store as always between these two fiercely competitive sides.

SCHEDULE

3rd Feb - First Test, The WACA Ground, Perth
6th Feb - Second Test, MCG, Melbourne
8th Feb - Third Test, SCG, Sydney

11th Feb - First ODI, The GABBA, Brisbane
13th Feb - Second ODI, The Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
15th Feb - Third ODI, The WACA Ground, Perth
17th Feb - Fourth ODI, SCG, Sydney
18th Feb - Fifth ODI, MCG, Melbourne

Squad news and other news to be released soon...

[FaaipDeOiad]

14 man South Africa squad touches down in Perth
Test players prepare to take on the best

South Africa's slimmed down 14 man test squad arrived in Perth today, ahead of the start of their three test series against Australia. Following a home summer in which his team disposed of the CWXI and the touring Indians in two closely fought series, captain Graeme Smith spoke highly of his team's chances in a brief pre-training press conference at the WACA, before closing the doors to all media as test preperations got underway.

Ashwell Prince has been named as vice-captain for the tour, and will be a key team member as South Africa confront a new look Australian bowling lineup. Also crucial with be South Africa's pace attack that performed so well in the home series, particularly spearhead Makhaya Ntini, who recently passed 300 test wickets. South Africa will name the final 12 for the opening test on the morning of the match.

South Africa Squad
GC Smith (c), AG Prince (vc), MV Boucher, AB de Villiers, HM Amla, JH Kallis, HH Gibbs, HH Dippenaar, AJ Hall, SM Pollock, PL Harris, A Nel, M Ntini, DW Steyn

[FaaipDeOiad]

Australia ring the changes as new era begins
Jaques, Watson, Johnson and MacGill enter the fray

As Australia look ahead to their first test series without the Ashes retirees, four new faces have been included in the 12 man squad ahead of the first test against South Africa. Stuart MacGill returns for his first series as the true spearhead spinner for his country, while Phil Jaques will play his third test match. Also named in the squad is Shane Watson, who will compete for the all-rounder spot with Andrew Symonds after missing the recent Ashes series with hamstring tear. In the crucial role replacing McGrath is debutant Mitchell Johnson, who will get first his chance on the bouncy WACA surface, having been selected ahead of other young seamers such as Ben Hilfenhaus and Shaun Tait.

While Australia enter the series as favourites, there are lingering doubts about the strength of the side in the new era, which Ricky Ponting and his men will be keen to dismiss. Australia will announce the starting XI on the morning of the test.

Australian XII
RT Ponting (c), AC Gilchrist (vc), PA Jaques, ML Hayden, MEK Hussey, MJ Clarke, A Symonds, SR Watson, B Lee, MG Johnson, SR Clark, SCG MacGill

[dontcloseyoureyes]

Haha, how old was Warne when he retired?

[Mr Mxyzptlk]

Non-CW players will be taken at their actual age and aged by CW standards from this point onward.

[w3lshrugby]

BETFAIR PREDICT TIGHT SERIES

Betfair have today released odds for the forthcoming South African tour of Australia.

TEST SERIES ODDS

Australia Win 2/1F
Drawn Series 8/1
South Africa Win 3/1

ODI SERIES ODDS

Australia Win 3/1JF
Drawn Series 32/1
South Africa Win 3/1JF

[Hoggy31]

Hah, Jaques over Rogers.

[marc71178]

BETFAIR PREDICT TIGHT SERIES

Betfair have today released odds for the forthcoming South African tour of Australia.

TEST SERIES ODDS

Australia Win 2/1F
Drawn Series 8/1
South Africa Win 3/1

ODI SERIES ODDS

Australia Win 3/1JF
Drawn Series 32/1
South Africa Win 3/1JF

I'll have £1000 on each option for both Tests and ODI's please

[age_master]

Dissapointed that Hifly is missing out

[Jungle Jumbo]

Non-CW players will be taken at their actual age and aged by CW standards from this point onward.

Doesn't that mean that we will end up with fake players in the future though? Maybe not for a long time.

I like the idea of a genuine squad being picked rather than just the 'current' players. I suppose this means other international teams will have changing squads, with players being dropped and selected.

[Jungle Jumbo]

I'll have £1000 on each option for both Tests and ODI's please

Haha, I can't see the bookies in CW Land doing too well out of this series.

[chaminda_00]

Doesn't that mean that we will end up with fake players in the future though? Maybe not for a long time.

I like the idea of a genuine squad being picked rather than just the 'current' players. I suppose this means other international teams will have changing squads, with players being dropped and selected.

Probably just your Broad, Hendriques and other real life youngsters taking their spot.

[AussieDominance]

Probably just your Broad, Hendriques and other real life youngsters taking their spot.

Henriques

[FaaipDeOiad]

Scorecard
Commentary

South Africa rue missed chances
1st Test - WACA

A brilliant 6th wicket stand between Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist has seen Australia home on the 5th morning of the first test in Perth. The pair withstood a turning pitch and some dangerous spells from Makhaya Ntini to carry Australia to a tense victory, assisted by a number of missed chances on the fourth evening. South Africa had many opportunities to take control of the match, but Australia came out ahead at key moments.

South African captain Graeme Smith won the toss and elected to bat on a flat WACA surface that promised spin later in the match, and his side dominated the opening stages thanks to a brilliant century from AB de Villiers. The young opener combined well with Hashim Amla to add 191 for the second wicket, and in what would become a familiar tale throughout the match, South Africa were well in control until the late stages of the day. The second new ball and a firey spell from Brett Lee triggered a collapse, and the tourists lost their final six wickets for just 16 runs.

Makhaya Ntini ensured the second morning also belonged to South Africa with a three wicket burst before lunch. He blasted out Jaques, Ponting and Hayden in quick succession and had Australia strugging at 3/13. Ntini grabbed two more wickets in his second spell, but Paul Harris suffered at the hands of Gilchrist in the afternoon session, and the rest of the South African attack struggled to find breakthroughs. A series of simple dropped catches didn't help the cause, as Brett Lee and debutant Mitchell Johnson both posted half-centuries and career high scores to take Australia to an unlikely first innings lead. Ntini took two more wickets on the third morning to finish with a stunning haul of eight, but Australia still led by 41.

AB de Villiers and Amla both added half-centuries to their first innings efforts, but South Africa's middle order failed to fire again and Johnson and Clark bowled telling spells, ensuring Australia needed under 300 to take the match. Australia appeared in control at 1/100, but some good bowling from Paul Harris and some questionable shot selection led to a flurry of wickets either side of tea, and Gilchrist come to the crease with almost 150 still needed.

After an early drop, Gilchrist brought his attacking instincts under control and played a mature innings, offering support to the in-form Clarke. Another let-off came for Gilchrist when Mark Boucher missed an easy stumping, while Clarke was in rare touch and took particular toll on Ntini as he raced past 50. By stumps Australia needed just 26 to win, and gathered the remaining runs without incident on the final morning. Clarke remained unbeaten just short of a deserved century, but South Africa will have more reason to be disappointed, after missing so many crucial chances.


South Africa 318
AB de Villiers 126, HM Amla 89
SR Clark 4/56, B Lee 3/72

Australia 359
B Lee 74, MG Johnson 71
M Ntini 8/100, SM Pollock 1/51

South Africa 333
AB de Villiers 79, HM Amla 79
SR Clark 4/56, SCG MacGill 2/58

Australia 5/293
MJ Clarke 95*, AC Gilchrist 59*
PL Harris 3/95, M Ntini 2/92

Australia win by 5 wickets.
Man of the Match: AB de Villiers

[Perm]

Little bit dubious that both Brett Lee and Mitchell Johnson could score 70's. Interesting game though.