Australia vs South Africa, AUS vs WI, Today Match Prediction 17 December 2022

aus vs sa Match Prediction & Analysis

The top two teams in the WTC points table will be face to face at The Gabba in the first Test of the 3-match series. This will be the first time these two teams will meet in a Test match since the infamous ‘sandpaper gate’ incident in 2018. 

Australia are in their best form in the current WTC cycle with 8 wins from 12 Tests and just one loss. Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, and Travis Head are all in brilliant form.

South Africa, with 6 wins from 10 matches are at number 2 in the WTC points table with 60 Percentage of points. This series is crucial in the WTC context as a loss for South Africa could open up the gates for other teams to reach the final.

Dean Elgar looked in good touch during the practice game against Cricket Australia XI. The visitors have a strong-looking squad with many promising names in the bowling and batting department.

This will be a step up for the Aussies who are yet to face a challenge at home.

TEAMS PREVIEW

Australia Preview

So much has passed since Australia last played South Africa in a Test match. The two senior players found guilty in the ‘sandpaper gate’ returned to international cricket after their ban. 

Steve Smith even led the Aussies in the absence of Pat Cummins in the 2nd Test against West Indies. A 50-over World Cup, two T20 World Cups, and one WTC cycle later, Australia and South Africa are once again face-to-face in a Test match.

During this time, a major change in the Aussie camp has been the rise of a new superstar in Marnus Labuschagne. A batting all-rounder whose stroke play resembles that of Steve Smith is a big deal in Tests for Australia.

Labuschagne scored 2 hundred and a double hundred in the recent two-match Test series against West Indies. Steve Smith and Travis Head were other centurions for Australia.

Another major development in the Australian Test camp is the return of Usman Khawaja during the last Ashes. He has been a consistent performer at the top and will be a key player in this match.

Josh Hazlewood is unlikely to make it for the 1st Test against the Proteas due to injury. As the skipper is fit and ready to come back in the side, either Boland or Neser will have to be left out.

Boland showed how valuable he is during the last Ashes and is also a bit quicker than Neser. He is more likely to be in the bowling attack as the first change while Cummins and Starc open the bowling.

Australia Predicted Playing XI:

David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland

Australia Actual Playing XI:

Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Starc, Alex Carey, Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green, David Warner, Travis Head

South Africa Preview

Dean Elgar and co. kicked off their current WTC cycle with a brilliant series win against India at home. The visitors led by Virat Kohli were big favourites to win the series. That series win set South Africa up nicely on the road to the WTC final.

Since then, South Africa went on to draw a series in NZ 1-1, beat Bangladesh at home 2-0, and lost 1-2 in England. Their last win in a Test match came at Lord’s where South Africa won by an innings and 12 runs.

Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje led the attack with 7 and 6 wickets in the match respectively. Sarel Erweel also played a crucial knock in that match as the opening batsman alongside Dean Elgar.

After that win, South Africa were outplayed by the hosts and ended up losing the remaining matches. Elgar’s hundred and a fifty each from van der Dussen, Theunis de Bruyn, and Verryenne in the recent practice game have given the Proteas some hope going into this match.

The Gabba offers consistent bounce which will help the batters play their strokes with confidence. There is no Keegan Petersen, Aiden Markram, Wiaan Mulder, and Ryan Rickelton in this South Africa squad.

However, the Proteas have persisted with Khaya Zondo, bringing the 32-year-old batsman with only 2 Test matches to his name in the squad.

Simon Harmer can add depth to the batting lineup along with Keshav Maharaj. These two can be crucial with the ball in addition to the pace trio of Ngidi, Rabada, and Nortje.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Dean Elgar (c), Sarel Erwee, Theunis de Bruyn, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wk), Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Simon Harmer

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Sarel Erwee, Anrich Nortje, Rassie van der Dussen, Marco Jansen, Khaya Zondo, Dean Elgar, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kyle Verreynne, Lungi Ngidi, Temba Bavuma

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at The Gabba offers pace and bounce for the fast bowlers. Though it is said to slow down in the afternoon, the true nature of the surface is of great help to both batters and bowlers. A good contest can be expected on this surface. The weather is expected to be partly cloudy throughout the Test with a high of 25 degrees Celsius.

Venue Details

The Gabba in Brisbane will be the venue for this Test match where Australia has an impeccable record. Before India’s win at this venue in 2021, Australia were unbeaten in Tests at The Gabba since 1988. The average 1st innings score at this venue is 330 runs while the average 3rd innings score is 241 runs. 

Toss: To Bat

Teams batting first in Tests at The Gabba have won 25 of the 66 matches while 26 were in favour of the team batting second. With the consistent bounce and pace from the pitch, the team batting first can aim for a big total and put themselves in a strong position.