- Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt said getting Australia’s top six educated to play very early will be important for their Test engagement which begins in Brisbane on Saturday.
- Australia’s top six batsmen were untested in the two-match engagement against the West Indies in Perth and Adelaide.
- The focus will be on Steve Smith, who has the most to prove against South Africa.
Proteas bowling coach Charl Langeveldt has said forcing Australia’s top six to play very early in their innings will be crucial to their success in the upcoming Test series which begins in Brisbane on Saturday.
In their 2-0 Frank Worrell Trophy series win against the West Indies, Australia’s top six, ably led by Marnus Labuschagne, displayed superb patience before turning the Windies to dust.
Labuschagne, who has made nine of his 10 Test hundreds in Australia, had scores of 204, 104* and 163 in the West Indies thrashing.
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Steve Smith stands as the biggest threat and one with the most to prove against South Africa, with the former Test captain averaging just 41.53 (his second lowest against any Test nations he has played against) and not having a century. Test against Proteas at home.
Smith made 200*, 20*, 0 and 35 against the West Indies, while opener Usman Khawaja enters the series with scores of 62, 65, 45 and 6 against the West Indies.
David Warner (5, 48, 21, 21) is under the tougher microscope despite his excellent record against South Africa (1,202 runs at 52.26) home and away.
Langeveldt made it clear that the top six from Australia, which also includes Travis Head, must be targeted early.
Australia were not out in their four innings against the West Indies.
“The key to your best six is the first 20 balls,” Langeveldt said.
“We have to get them to play and Steven doesn’t move a lot. Now he has a good base and he doesn’t move around the box.”
“It’s going to be a big challenge for our guys, and they’re going to be up for it, but the key is the first 20 balls. We need to get them playing.”
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South Africa’s fast bowling contingent of Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee took 11 of the 16 wickets they fell in the four-day tied match of the tour against the Cricket Australia XI in Brisbane.
Anrich Nortje was not among the wickets, but Langeveldt was more than pleased with the mileage and effort the bowlers put in over the four days in Queensland.
“It was brilliant for our guys and our workloads,” Langeveldt said.
“The guys got some time on their feet, which is very important, and with the bowlers, they did very well.
“The conditions in Brisbane are different compared to anywhere else in Australia. We play fuller and if you play short it may look good but it won’t pay off.”
