Kallis has never really troubled Australia with ball or bat. I rate him highly, one of my favorite cricketers but I doubt we're losing sleep over him. Its obviously just been a mental thing for him given his amazimg talent, so who knows if he can break the shackles. Maybe its 20th time a charm?
Amla and philander will make our break your campaign and I think most of the homework will go into those players (you certainly won't hear anyone talking about quotas as the reason these guys play). Steyn is going to scare the bejesus out of anyone, but besides him only philander looks capable of skittling us. If we can get on top of him, there's not a lot to follow. Morkel has always been cannon fodder for the Aussies, like kallis. I just can't see that changing, but both have the talent to prove me wrong....very wrong. But going by the English series, they are still hot and cold bowlers so if we catch them cold the Aussies could post respectable totals even if steyn is firing.
South Africa have a far superior middle order..and top order for that matter. But their middle order has always proven as soft as anyone's given a few early break throughs. Amlas shown he can single handedly demoralise a good bowling outfit. Not saying its a one man team, because smith, ab and jp have all had success against the aussies....but getting on top of their in form batsmen early automatically puts pressure on a side. And handling pressure has never been the strength of South Africa, even though they've consistently had as much talent as any side in the last 15 years. But if the likes of Smith, amla, kallis do make a good start, the middle order is great at capitalizing. Whereas the difference with Australia is they will rarely capitalize on good starts... but may as well not even come out if we lose a few at the start.
But this is only 3 tests...if the Aussies can manufacture some decent first innings totals, I genuinely think we have the fire power to open up some old wounds. The Aussies need more luck than the saffers.....but I think they are still half a chance. We played the same outfit practically yesterday on home soil and made a very good account of ourselves....probably should've won considering we lost from a position of absolute dominance in the first test. And the last time the saffers came here we were in similarly dominant positions in the first 2 tests to only throw it away. I think the Aussies learnt a thing or 2...or at least remembered how to finish off test matches against the Indians. Problem is this has been our biggest lay off from test matches forever so the momentum has been lost.
Its south Africa's series to lose....but what has the worlds number one ranking meant lately? Nothing. India dropped out in record time and are now minnows, england almost matched them....can south Africa stay at the top for more than a couple of series? I thought both India and england would dominate for at least a year...so its too hard to call. I just hope we don't get pounded 3-0 then drop pointing and hussey as scapegoats....that will kiss goodbye our ashes hopes.
