All the talk surrounding the ongoing South Africa vs Australia Test series has been about the nonsense away from the cricket but it is easy to forget that there is actually a compelling and extremely competitive series is being played out.
South Africa levelled up the score in Port Elizabeth and when the two sides meet in Cape Town beginning on Thursday the series will be locked at 1-1 with two matches remaining.
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South Africa
For one reason or another South Africa were not themselves in the first Test but they came back fighting hard in the second Test and now they go in search of a series win which would be quite significant given the bad blood and the rivalry that is being formed, or indeed has formed, between these two competitive nations.
One area where South Africa will always be strong in this series and in ones to come is with the ball. When you have the seam attack they have they are rarely not going to be in the game. What often decides their fate is how their star batsmen fare and it was no surprise that AB de Villiers scored well in the Port Elizabeth win.
Australia
I think it is fair to say that Australia surprised South Africa with their fight with the bat in Durban and in addition to that their bowlers really stepped up and laid down a marker. Unfortunately for the tourists the South African bowlers appreciated that and raised the bar again so it will be interesting to see what the Aussie quicks have here.
I don’t think Australia did an awful lot wrong in the previous match. It probably isn’t the shrewdest move to wind Kagiso Rabada up and I’m sure they won’t make that mistake here. They could do with more runs from their top order but that is easier said than done. If they can get those runs they will be tough to beat again.
Team News
It would appear that the two week break has given Temba Bavuma the time needed to be fit for this match. He will come in for Theunis de Bruyn. Unlike you have been in a bunker this week you will know that Kagiso Rabada is allowed to play.
Australia were said to have issues over Mitchell Marsh and Mitchell Starc but it appears they are both fit to play so the tourists could well name an unchanged side despite defeat in the previous match.
Newlands
There have been 55 past Test matches on this ground and both teams have good records here. South Africa have played in the lot and have 24 wins to 20 defeats and the 11 draws while Australia have a 10-3 winning record from 13 matches here.
Generally this is a result wicket and a good cricket wicket. Batsmen can get in if they have the patience to do so but the bowlers remain in the game throughout so we should get a result of some kind here.
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Betting
I don’t usually bet on the match outcome before I see the wicket but I think South Africa are worth backing here now that Kagiso Rabada is allowed to play. He was all over Australia in the previous match and quite simply he makes the home side much the better of the two.
He, along with Vernon Philander, will ensure there is plenty of pressure on the Australian batsmen and I don’t think enough of them have the quality to repel it. South Africa’s batting will be strengthened by Bavuma returning and all things being equal I expect them to come out on top here and guarantee themselves a share of the series.
Tim Paine has looked solid enough in this series so far and I think he could be a big price at 18/1 to top score in the first innings of the match for Australia. Paine showed against England that he has a lot of fight and heart and can tough it out and this is a ground where a top order can disintegrate. I’ll have a small wager on this Australian one doing that and the keeper taking advantage down the pile.
Tips
WON – Back South Africa to win 3rd Test for a 4/10 stake at 2.25 with Betfred
Back them here:
Back T.Paine Top Australia Batsman (1st Inns) for a 1/10 stake at 19.00 with LeoVegas
Back him here:
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