Poll: How does this Test play out?
The state of play
As we said, it’s 1 v 2 in the world as far as the Test Championship next June is concerned. A series win for Australia will all but seal their spot at Lord’s next year after bottling a rails run in the previous edition.
As it stands it’s effectively that top four that includes Sri Lanka and India as well that can secure the top two positions, England’s stunning form of late won’t be enough.
If Australia go down to South Africa in this series it ramps up an already tantalising four-Test tour of India in February, while the South Africans turn around and face the Windies at home. If they can jag a Test against the Aussies and then presumably dismantle the West Indies, you’d expect them to finish top two.
Welcome one, welcome all – is this a bowl first pitch?
Morning sports fans,
Bit of rain about here in the Maroubra Bureau but looks a treat at the Gabba where it’s 1 v 2 in the world as Australia host South Africa in the first Test.
She’s a green old deck up north and with a touch of cloud cover and both sides boasting top class pace attacks, will there be a thought to bowling first for the winner of the toss?
Those cries of ‘nooooooo’ you can hear are Nasser Hussain from 2003, the last visiting captain to bowl first and win a Test at the Gabba was New Zealand’s Jeremy Coney back in 1985.
We’ve got Malcolm Conn and Daniel Brettig on the ground as usual and we’ll have the toss and confirmed XIs when they land. First ball at 11.20am AEDT.
