Australia’s comprehensive victory in Durban was overshadowed by the confrontation between Aussie Vice-Captain David Warner and South African keeper Quinton de Kock. Warner has been hit with a grade two contrary conduct charge by match referee Jeff Crowe, meaning the opener could face the prospect of a two match suspension. If Warner cops to an early guilty plea, he could be looking at three demerit points going on his record, while De Kock has been hit with a lesser grade one charge.
The Aussies will be fired up and be looking to ram home their 1-0 advantage when play commences in the Second Test.
Win-Draw-Win
South Africa have only themselves to blame for creating the perfect conditions in Durban for Mitchell Starc.
The Protea’s brains trust made an effort to blunt Australia’s pace attack by serving up a slow drive pitch, perfect for swing bowling, with Starc taking full advantage. The Aussie quick finished with nine wickets for the match, upstaging South African spinner Keshav Maharaj who also matched Starc’s efforts with the ball.
The Port Elizabeth pitch has traditionally been tailored made for spin bowlers and Nathan Lyon will surely have a say on the outcome. The last time Australia ventured to the ground they were trounced by the Protea’s in 2014 to the tune of 231 runs.
South Africa will be worried by the form of several key batsmen with Faf du Plessis and Hashim Amla struggling in the First Test. Du Plessis is carrying a broken finger and he will surely be put to the test against the likes of Pat Cummins. Amla can’t seem to catch a break against Josh Hazlewood, the Aussie quick has dismissed him six times in seven innings.
Australia will be wanting to field the same eleven and with no major injury concerns over the side, it’s unlikely Steve Smith will want to change a winning formula. Cameron Bancroft will be feeling better about his role in the side, after a second innings half-century. Usman Khawaja’s weakness against spin bowling will be put under the microscope again, in the spin-friendly conditions.
Given the events surrounding the First Test in Durban, the Aussies will be looking to keep the pressure on South Africa. Nathan Lyon triggered a first innings collapse that saw South Africa bowled out for 162, taking the key wicket of Amla for a duck. With some telling contributions from the Marsh brothers in the middle order, Australia are in the box-seat to take control of the series in Port Elizabeth.
Tip: Australia to win ($2.00)
Runscorer Markets
Australia
Steve Smith ($3.30) has traditionally been the Australia’s go-to man in the clutch moments with the bat. The Aussie skipper has struggled of late against leg spin bowling in the last couple of months. Smith had some issues getting on top of England’s Dawid Malan and Ali Rashid in the ODI series and wasn’t comfortable against Keshav Maharaj in Durban.
David Warner ($4.50) will feel like he owes the top order a big performance and will be feeling right at home in Port Elizabeth. The Aussie opener crafted a pair of half-centuries in 2014 and will be hoping to go one better here, in what could be a defining inning for the series.
Mitchell Marsh ($9) looms as the key man for Australia, coming in the crucial number six role. The burly all-rounder looked completely at home in Durban, crafting a well-made 96. Marsh has looked a more relaxed figure at the crease since his recall to Test cricket against England. The West-Australian seems to have turned a corner, averaging 104 in his last four Tests.
Tip: Back Mitchell Marsh to top score for Australia ($9)
South Africa
The Proteas will be disappointed with the returns of their top order in the First Test in Durban. The likes of Amla, De Villers and skipper Faf du Plessis ($5.50) couldn’t find any consistency across both innings.
Young South African opener Aiden Markram ($4.50) was able to stamp his mark on the game with a brilliant 146 in the second innings.
Dean Elgar ($6.50) and AB de Villers ($4.33) will be looking to get amongst the runs in Port Elizabeth. Elgar was one of the few Proteas batsmen to score runs against India and De Villers is one of the game’s premier batsmen. After nearly eighteen months away from Test cricket, De Villers will be hungry for a big score against the best bowling attack in the world.
Tip: AB de Villers to top score for South Africa ($4.33)
Player of the Match
If Australia can go on and secure a victory in the Second Test, then Player of the Match honours will go to the visitors again. Aussie players have claimed the award in their last two Test matches.
The Australian bowlers will be the favourites to grab the award, with Mitchell Starc ($8.50) claiming the honours after nine wickets in the First Test. Aussie spinner Nathan Lyon also represent some decent value at a $11 quote. The GOAT is in career-best form and the spin-friendly conditions will make him a genuine wicket-taking threat.
Tip: Nathan Lyon to be named the Player of the Match ($11)