South Africa vs Australia, 2nd Test Preview: Resumption of the battle

Ryan McLaren, the all-rounder has been ruled out post the bloodshed at Supersport Park. If the Proteas are to go for a like-for-like replacement, then, that Wayne Parnell is the man is a no brainer. They have the option of including Dean Elgar to strengthen the lower middle order, but frankly speaking, squeezing in Elgar would hardly beef up the batting, as the guy neither brings in the counter attacking flair nor the technical prowess to take the game to the Aussie camp. An out of the way, though not totally outlandish option is to go with an all pace attack by roping in Rory Kleindvelt for Rob Peterson, relying on JP Duminy to send down his occasional tweakers.

But there are no qualms in the fact that unless the batting puts up a considerably improved performance, the Proteas are set for more nightmarish misery at the moustached menace’s mercy.

Australia:

Mitchell Johnson – Enough said!

Talk about a side on a roll. The Aussies have backed up backyard bullying of the Poms with squeezing the life out of the world number one team on foreign shores. In a team swaddled by success and brimming with performers, there has to be the problem of plenty. Too many pairs of feet for a pair of boots. Alex Doolan’s debut was more than just convincing, to say the least. Shaun Marsh dazzled with a career best display, carting bowlers around the park with disdain. Shane Watson, Australia’s poster pin up man with his multi-disciplined talents and varied skill sets finds himself in a spot of bother.

For Watson to force his way in, either Doolan or Marsh need to warm the bench, which is fair on the grounds of seniority but thoroughly unfair on the basis of natural justice with sheer performance being the basis. They say, the solution to the problem lies in the problem itself. Watson’s inclusion and the accompanying conundrum has been put to rest temporarily, courtesy the injury which was manifested by his constant limping while accomplishing drinks carrying duties at the Supersport park. If Watson’s inclusion does happen and at the expense of either Marsh or Doolan, it will be the most disgusting and distasteful discourse of ill luck in recent times.

Chris Rogers, for all the Ashes success he had, failed with all pomp in both the innings of the first test. Though talented, the guy is rendered prostrate at times, a result of more illustrious and ostentatious colleagues waiting in the wings. He needs to perform; parsimonious returns are not going to leverage his life at the top of the order. For the simple reason that he is not your impact player like a Warner or a Watson.

That Aussies are going to field the same eleven is a layman’s guess unless Watson barges his way in. A team of dreams, a captain oozing the Australian aggression, an ensemble of bowlers with the might to spook teams and witch hunt its victims. The world is getting more than a glimpse into the Aussies of the old – the predators of the last decade of the twentieth century.

All said and done, that this contest will be as excruciating and nail biting a one as you will see is a fact in all surety. The Aussie juggernaut is on, the Mitch Johnson show is running to full houses, putting up carnage of sides and steamrolled oppositions on display, but write off the Proteas at your own peril. Battle scarred warriors resemble wounded tigers on prowl. Provoke it, dent its pride, smash its ego, and victimise yourself to be vanquished by its might.