The Wait is Over!

The wait is definitely over! For at 2:30 GMT on the 17th of December, South Africa and Australia will begin the clash for the unofficial Test Championship. Ricky Ponting, Australia's captain will be hoping not to add "losing a Test Series in Australia" to his collection of trophies and valuables while a calm Graeme Smith will look to complete South Africa's journey to the peak of Test Cricket.

Much has already been said about the series, which in itself is an Australian quality, but it'll take more than words to plant this competition into the anals of Test history. For all the pre-series chatter in India, Australia failed to show up and the series didn't live up to expectations. Australia has a better team at home, a fortress they've held since the fall of the mighty West Indies.

For Australia, the result will not only help hide the obvious fact of their demotion from "World dominators" but reinstate that they are alive and well. They will field one of world cricket's strongest batting line-ups, coupled with a promising three-men pace attack, led by Brett Lee. Jason Krejza, the overlooked offspinner, will round off Australia's spearhead. There were indications that all-rounder Shane Watson might be included which would have strengthened both the batting and bowling but after the setbacks caused by defensive thinking, the Aussies must be trying to re-invent their aggressive persona to which there are good reasons.

It is true that they've held a mental edge over the Proteas ever since readmission. Australia may not be the force they were with McGrath and Warne at the helm, but perhaps they don't need to be. Both Ponting and coach Nielson hope that is the case and have been eager to get South Africa into the same muddle that saw previous contingents' disintegrate. Smith hasn't bitten the bait but has been confident enough to allow others like coach Arthur and Mark Boucher to speak highly of Dale Steyn, who has probably had two dozen articles written about him before a single ball has been bowled.

South Africa will need to do everything well. It might not need an awesome effort, but one that is clinical and consistent could be enough. Earlier this year, the Proteas won in England after four long decades and while they outperformed the host, they didn't perform at their best. Steyn, Ntini and Morkel weren't always on the mark and England did much to add to their own downfall; it is unlikely that Australia will be as generous. If the immense potential of Steyn and Morkel are manifested in this series, the Aussie's won't simply be "under some pressure" as some commentators put it nicely, they would be wishing for the series to end.

Tony Greig had made comments about the weakness of the Protea batting line-up but for the past year, they have been as responsible as the pacemen for ensuring South Africa's dominance across the globe. They batted long in Pakistan, India and England and almost never gave their wickets away. The top order of Smith, McKenzie, Amla, Kallis, Prince and AB form the most diverse and formidable batting line-up ever established after apartheid. But the key remains in balance and no where have we seen this than the recent travails of the Australians. With Warne and McGrath, there was little pressure on the batting while Hayden, Langer, Ponting and Gilchrist ensured there was little pressure on the bowlers as well. For South Africa's bowlers to succeed, their batsmen must do well and vice a versa.

In 2001-02, another clash between 1 and 2 ended quite emphatically going 3-Nil to Australia. South Africa was led by Shaun Pollock and an aging Allan Donald, who would retire months later. They were never able to break in early as Langer and Hayden established 50+, 100+ partnerships in each Test. Langer has retired but Hayden is still Australia's pace-setter despite a recent slump in form but it will be imperative for Steyn and Co. to knock Hayden and Ponting early. In that same series, the contest was quite even at the end of day 1 of the 1st Test with Australia 272 for 6. But a century from Damien Martyn took Australia pass the 400 barrier and South Africa never recovered. Smith and his team will have to win those key moments if they are to compete. They've shown themselves as a team that comes back strongly throughout the past year but going behind early against Australia in Australia is not advisable.

Some of my Aussie fans might complain that I haven't mentioned much about how Australia might tackle South Africa but the fact remains it is the Proteas who have to topple the tree. Australia remains the No.1 team in the world and their credentials speak for themselves, whether that will be enough to send South Africa back with whimper is upto to the Proteas.