Twenty20 / Andrew Hughes / 26 March 2009 / Leave a comment

After six tests were shared, South Africa and Australia went on to take it in turns to beat each other in the ODIs. So who should we back when these familiar adversaries meet in a pair of Twenty20 matches? Andrew Hughes makes some tough picks.

Australia and South Africa could be forgiven for feeling sick of the sight of each other right now. Since the middle of December, they've gone toe to toe in six Test matches, two Twenty20s and five ODIs. And they aren't done yet?

Apparently not. Next up is a brace of Twenty20s and then five more fifty-over bashes. You wait four years for a South Africa/Australia clash and then twenty come along at once. It's the cricketing equivalent of Liverpool playing Manchester United twice a week for three months.

Still, in ordinary circumstances, punters would not be complaining. By rights, we should all know as much as there is to know about these two cricketing nations and be in a sound position to cash in. But the problem is that after so many weeks trading blows, neither has established a clear supremacy. The six Tests were shared equally and the teams have taken it in turns to beat one another in the limited overs games. The market for the First Twenty20 International on Friday reflects just how closely matched they are, with South Africa on [2.0] and Australia on [1.94]

Both sides are resting key players and both have called up a number of unfamiliar faces, making it even trickier to weigh up their relative chances. Australia have chosen a squad of sixteen, of whom fourteen will remain for the subsequent One Day Internationals. The two odd men out are big-hitting David Warner and veteran paceman Shane Harwood, called up as Twenty20 specialists. By contrast, five of the South African squad have been selected for the Twenty20s only.

Australia appear to have more options and crucially, the stronger batting line-up. I'd expect the explosive Warner to open with Brad Haddin, followed by a middle order of Ponting, Clarke and a couple of Husseys. After that, they have a solid group of capable spin-bowling all-rounders in Marcus North, James Hopes and Cameron White. With Mitchell Johnson coming in down the order, there is a formidable depth to the Aussie batting. It will be interesting to see whether both Johnson and Nathan Bracken play in both Twenty20 games, but if one is rested, there are some capable if untested quicks who can step in, notably the aforementioned Harwood or possibly Brett Geeves or Ben Laughlin.

With Graeme Smith still unavailable, South Africa are continuing with Johann Botha as captain and there were definite signs during the One Day Internationals in Australia that he was finally getting to grips with his role. But the absence of Smith and Jacques Kallis means that South Africa's batting line-up looks a little flimsy, once you get past Amla, Duminy and DeVilliers. The middle order of van Jaarsveld, Mark Boucher, Albie Morkel and Botha really needs to start delivering. After that, the bowling options are underwhelming. Spinners Justin Ontong and Robin Peterson haven't impressed when given their chances. Young quick bowler Wayne Parnell is promising and may get the nod to partner Dale Steyn ahead of new boy Yusuf Abdulla and the experienced Johann Louw.

Twenty20 is a volatile game and can be a tricky format to weigh up, particularly as you can't always be sure how seriously the participants are taking it. However, with the World Twenty20 Cup coming up this summer and the IPL on the horizon, it is safe to assume that everyone involved will be trying their utmost to impress national selectors or franchise owners.

Assuming therefore that both sides will be going all out to win, I would have to favour Australia. They bat deeper than the Proteas and in Mitchell Johnson and Nathan Bracken, possess two excellent limited overs bowlers. South Africa will once more depend on Dale Steyn to deliver the cutting edge and in the absence of Kallis, need one of the inexperienced quicks to put in a good performance. Although South Africa have an excellent Twenty20 record at the Wanderers, Australia have won their last three Twenty20 games and they have every chance of making it four on Friday.