The second Test between South Africa and Australia is all set to get underway on Friday at Port Elizabeth. The tourists hold a 1-0 lead in the four-match series after a 118-run win in the opening Test at Durban.
After the opening Test in which a lot of drama occurred, the tensions will be heightened when both sides meet at Port Elizabeth.
Here, we look at the key talking points ahead of the clash.
WARNER-DE KOCK FIASCO DOMINATES SHOWDOWN
Though Australia fashioned a brilliant victory in the first Test, all the talk since has been on the confrontation between David Warner and Quinton de Kock that took place on the fourth day.
The Aussie has accepted the match-referee’s Level 2 charge against him for bringing the game into disrepute and finally broke his silence on the matter when he called the South African’s remarks ‘vile and disgusting’.
In comparison, the Proteas wicketkeeper contested the Level 1 charges against him though he failed to escape a fine following the hearing. Expect the atmosphere in the second Test to be edgy after plenty of blame games from both camps after the ugly spat.
There will be no shortage of animosity between both sides due to the spat.
CAN PROTEAS STOP AUSTRALIA’S FAB FOUR?
Australia’s bowling attack lived up to its fearsome reputation in Durban, bundling out the hosts cheaply in the first innings to pave the path for victory.
With world-class pacers in Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood and a leading spinner in Nathan Lyon, the visitors have as complete a bowling attack one might want.
The Durban Test was the fifth time the four bowlers had played together in the Australian whites. They have remarkably won all five of them. With the same bowling attack expected to turn up at Port Elizabeth, there seems to be no respite in sight for the hosts who will need to massively up their game.
Australia have won all five Tests in which the ‘Fab Four’ have played together.
TIME TO UNLEASH THE RABADA?
While Australia’s pace attack is one to be feared, South Africa’s isn’t too shabby either with young Kagiso Rabada leading the line. Dale Steyn inferred that Rabada was bowling like a caged animal in the first Test after copping fines and demerit points for his aggressiveness in earlier matches.
Like Virat Kohli, the youngster thrives in the heat of battle and likes to get stuck into the opposition to bring out the best in him.
After all the drama in the opening Test, Rabada will be itching to have a go at the Australian batsmen, especially Warner, who can expect a barrage of verbal volleys aimed at him from all quarters. An unleashed Rabada might just be the tonic South Africa needs for now.
Warner v Rabada will be a spicy battle.
HOSTS NEED TAIL TO SING
While South Africa’s top-order failed miserably in the first innings at Durban, much of their undoing came due to the measly contributions of their tail.
They lost their last five wickets for 12 runs in first innings. They fared marginally better in the second, scoring 15 runs as Mitchell ‘ender of tails’ Starc made merry.
If Faf du Plessis’ men need to mount a comeback in the series, they will definitely need a bit more from their tail-enders.
Starc has wrecked havoc on the South African tail so far.
