Five ways Australia should counter South Africa at Hobart

#2 Early wickets

It is upto Starc and Hazlewood to conjure up early wickets

The Proteas are a side that thrives when there is no pressure. To put pressure on their middle order, Aussies need wickets up front, like in the first innings at Perth. Starc and Hazlewood are exceptional opening bowlers and Smith should back them to pluck out one or two wickets in their initial spell.

As South Africa showed at Perth in the second innings, if they get a good base, the likes of Du Plessis, Duminy and De Kock get a license to bat with freedom. On the other hand, a few early wickets and the pressure is on the same batsmen to put up a good score and the World has seen how the Proteas collapse under pressure.

It is upto Starc and Hazlewood to conjure up early wickets and if they can do that across both innings, there will be no stopping Aussies at Hobart.