There is a great debate going on as to which is the complete and best teams among Australia and South Africa. Only today the debate has ended when South Africa managed to loose the third and final test.
If we sit down to compare each player individually, both teams are evenly balanced and tremendously talented. The opening batsman are equally prolific and talented. Probably, Hayden and Langer are having time of their life. Incidently both have come back after being out of the team for lack lustre performances. Kirsten is the most consistent batsman in the world. Gibbs is more attacking and aggressive player. Middle order is weak link for SA though, Mckinsey coming good of late, made things little easy for SA. Kallis is in the same league as Mark Waugh as far as Batting is concerned. Two new batsman in SA is the weak link in their team. Ponting and Steve are too experienced and prolific to be compared with SA’s middle order. Wicket Keepers on both sides are equally good, Gilchrist being lot more aggressive and better run scorer than Boucher.
In the bowling department, Fast bowling is equally good on both the sides. There are some very good and effective all rounders in SA. Both teams are aggressive on the field and do not leave a chance to get verbal.
If both teams are almost equal in all departments, question is why is Australia a better team? There are two reasons, which were not mentioned above.
1) Shane Warne
2) Temperament
There is no one apart from probably Kirsten, who can play Warne consistently well. Cullinan in one interview even said, ’’I do not know what a flipper is’’. How disgusting for a top batsman to say these words.
The second part is Temperament. This is something that has gone with Cronje. He was always the strength of SA, just as Steve waugh is for Australia. They are still a great side in one dayers, but not in tests.
After all this, there should not be any doubt as of which is the best and consistent team in the world.
But then, SA defeated India in India and Australia lost to India in India. Interestingly both the teams consider Indian tour to be the toughest one on earth. Despite this South Africa is a very good and aggressive team, but not a complete one yet.