Australia vs South Africa Prediction & Betting Tips - World Test Championship

Prediction published on 15/12/2022, 08:13  by Yunchu Li | Modified on 15/12/2022 at 08:13 in Cricket Predictions

South Africa heads down under for what’s expected to be a fiery encounter against Australia at the Gabba this Saturday in the first of three tests. The two last met in 2018 at Newlands in Cape Town in a match that went down in history for the infamous ball-tampering scandal involving Aussie swing bowler Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith, and David Warner. Both Smith and Warner are expected to be included in the Wallabies line-up for the upcoming series and will no doubt be looking to make amends on home turf. Australia head into this test series riding a high after dispatching the West Indies in a two-match test series earlier in the month. Marnus Labuscagne headlined that series and has been in incredible form of late. Labuscagne is now the ICC’s top-ranked test batsman for 2022 and scored three centuries in his last four innings. The South African-born batsman will be chomping at the bit to extend his good form against familiar foes whose pace attack will pose a very different challenge to that of the West Indies.

The Proteas are currently ranked second on the ICC standings, behind only their opponents, and will want to take a step closer to booking their place in the World Test Championship final in London next year. South Africa’s form in recent times has been poor, to say the least. Prior to their abrupt exit from the World T20 tournament, they were beaten 2-1 by India in both the ODI and T20 formats, following a 3-match test series defeat by England in September. The visitors have dominated this fixture in the recent past, winning the last 3 test series against Australia in 2008, 2012, and 2017. However, it’s fairly evident that the current South African squad statistically is not as good as those that emerged victorious in the most recent meetings. The South African team landed in Australia almost two weeks before the first test and was involved in a four-day practice match against Cricket Australia XI that ended in a draw. Captain Dean Elgar led the way for his side with a century in his first innings, while Rassie van der Dussen was welcomed back to the national outfit after missing the World T20 through injury and hit a patient 95 off 184 balls.