Australia’s surprise test series win in South Africa last month showed that Ricky Ponting could still command the resources for a winning cricket side. An Australia in transition stunned South Africa, who was tipped to assume the number one crown in world cricket, after last year’s series win in Australia.
Australia Surprises South Africa - Seals Test Series
Australia went to South Africa with a new opening combination in Simon Katich and Phil Hughes. But more worrying was their bowlers’ inexperience. Put together, they had only 23 tests behind them, with the most experienced being Mitchell Johnson, 18 tests old. But it was the newcomers and the new combinations that tilted the scales in Australia’s favour.
Matthew Hayden’s retirement was quickly forgotten, as Phil Hughes scored 415 runs with two centuries in his first test series. Marcus North scored a century on debut at the Wanderers. Mitchell Johnson took charge of the bowling in the absence of an injured Brett Lee, and cemented his reputation as one of the world’s best pace bowlers. Australia’s triumph was a sea change from their capitulation to India and South Africa in 2008.
What Awaits Australia?
Can this new-look Australian side recapture its lost dominance over world cricket? The bowlers may have won in South Africa, but their inexperience could weigh against them in this summer’s Ashes series against England. Brett Lee has not been in the best of form, and Australia needs him at his best in the Ashes. Australia struggled in recent one-day internationals against South Africa, and lost two Twenty20 matches last month. Australia looks vulnerable in the runup to the Twenty20 World Cup in June.
South Africa Seeks to Recover
Despite the loss to Australia, South Africa continues to be a formidable side in all departments of the game. But the Proteas will get their next chance in test cricket only in December, when they take on England at home. South Africa heads for the Twenty20 World Cup as a leading contender, buoyed by recent wins over Australia.
India's Surge Abroad - Triumph Over New Zealand
Defending champion India will also be a force to reckon with in the T20 World Cup. When it comes to test matches, India has made steady progress overseas. Starting with the year 2000, India has won test matches in every other test-playing nation, compared to the 1990s when India won only one test abroad, in Sri Lanka.
In March-April Mahendra Singh Dhoni led his team past a long-time barrier - a test series win in New Zealand. It was India’s first series win in New Zealand in 41 years and the first test victory there in 33 years. The two countries where India is yet to win a test series remain Australia and South Africa.
An Australian team in transition is battling to hold on, with South Africa and India eager to climb to the top of the ladder. It is the perfect recipe for close contests but there is no clear leader in sight just yet.
