South Africa remain guarded against ‘quality’ Australia attack

While South Africa are no longer worried by Australia’s pace, they remain wary of an attack that will test their batsmen in home conditions, in what is expected to be a battle of the bowlers in the upcoming three-Test series.

“In terms of real, real pace, 150s-plus, guys like Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee [aren’t around], but there are still guys who hit great areas; quality bowlers,” Neil McKenzie, South Africa’s batting coach, said. “The aggression is still there. I don’t know if the 150 is still there – Starc can get it up – but they are still a quality bowling line-up.”

With Australia’s squad yet to be announced, and several seamers still in contention for a place, South Africa cannot be certain who they will face, but they are studying all possibilities. They may even have a glance at the Sheffield Shield on television, if for no other reason than novelty, because South Africa’s first-class cricket is not broadcast, and no matter what they see, McKenzie is confident it will not intimidate them.

He did not go as far as to say South Africa no longer see Australia as the final frontier, primarily because they have won their last two Test …

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