South Africa seek to end Australia hoodoo
28 Feb 2014 6:06 AM IST
Graeme Smith’s South Africa will seek to cross what has become the final frontier for the country’s Test squad when they take on Australia in the series-deciding third and final Test at Newlands from Saturday. Since returning to international cricket in 1991, South Africa have beaten every other Test nation except Australia in home and away series.
Smith has twice led South Africa to triumphs in Australia but a home series win has eluded Smith and his predecessors. In six previous tours by Australia going back to 1993/94 the visitors have been victors four times with two series shared. It seemed the sequence would continue when a Mitchell Johnson-inspired Australia won the first Test of the current series by 281 runs at Centurion - but world champions South Africa bounced back in emphatic style with a 231-run win in Port Elizabeth last weekend.
It has set up a showdown which has ignited local interest, with capacity crowds expected on the first two days of the Test.
Smith has twice led South Africa to triumphs in Australia but a home series win has eluded Smith and his predecessors. In six previous tours by Australia going back to 1993/94 the visitors have been victors four times with two series shared. It seemed the sequence would continue when a Mitchell Johnson-inspired Australia won the first Test of the current series by 281 runs at Centurion - but world champions South Africa bounced back in emphatic style with a 231-run win in Port Elizabeth last weekend.
It has set up a showdown which has ignited local interest, with capacity crowds expected on the first two days of the Test.
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