South Africa vs Australia: The challenges each team will face in the Sydney Test
Going into the third and final Test of the series between Australia and South Africa, it is the hosts who are in the easier position of the two sides.
4 January marks the start of the last Test in the series between Australia and South Africa.After all, not only have they sealed the series with an unassailable 2-0 lead, but they are also quite clearly the stronger side in this series.
Their focus going into the Test is how to negotiate the spinner-friendly conditions that will be up on the offer – and how it will play into an all-important tour of India coming up in February.
"It (Sydney conditions) is a huge connection to India. Fast bowling and reverse swing are going to come into it, which we can expect in India," Australia captain Pat Cummins told reporters.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Stumps, Day 1️⃣<br><br>Anrich Nortje picked up the crucial wickets of Warner and Labuschagne, but bad light and rain called an early end to the day with 🇦🇺 at 147/2.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AUSvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AUSvSA</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/AnrichNortje02?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AnrichNortje02</a> <a href="https://t.co/jDlp8D9BLH">pic.twitter.com/jDlp8D9BLH</a></p>— Pretoria Capitals (@PretoriaCapsSA) <a href="https://twitter.com/PretoriaCapsSA/status/1610544951443718146?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
"Probably get more spin overs here; our batters will probably face more spin here as well. So it's a perfect connection.
"Even personally captaining here is different to the last few Test matches. So it is a really good prep."
"Whatever you do there's going to be a strong connection to India, which is nice. It's not by purpose, it's just worked out that way."
However, another issue to worry about will factor into their team selection for this match is injuries.
Potentially, they could deal with this by using the squad options at their disposal to ensure they have enough backup options.
"T20s and one-dayers think [opportunities] happen organically; test cricket, it's a bit harder. I don't wish [injuries] upon anyone, but we speak a lot about having a squad of 15-plus players to get through a hectic 12-month schedule," Cummins said.
"It's not going to take 11, it will take 15 or 16 and if that means one or two guys get their opportunity they may not have got before heading over to a place like India in that hot furnace it's only a good thing."
Australia probably started with Cameron Green in the playing XI, but the all-rounder is injured, as is Mitchell Starc.
These injuries and the need to include another spinner due to the nature of the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) wickets means that a few changes will be made.
Ashton Agar could come into the playing XI, but he seems a more straightforward option than the other players Australia may have to bring in.
Will they bring Lance Morris, dubbed the new 'Wild Thing' after Shaun Tait due to his speed as a Mitchell Starc replacement? Does that mean Josh Hazlewood continues to ride the bench despite declaring himself fit? Or will Scott Boland finally lose his spot on the side?
Even in the batting front, the likes of Marcus Harris and Matt Renshaw – the latter named in this squad as batting cover for only this Test – will be chomping at the bit for a chance to be out there in the middle.
To top things off, Australia know a win in the final Test guarantees their spot in the World Test Championship final. Picking their XI for the Test match will certainly be quite a task.